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> I would be investigating the possibility that the operators themselves sold the antenna for scrap... This might sound far-fetched to many, but it's a real th

> I would be investigating the possibility that the operators themselves sold the antenna for scrap... This might sound far-fetched to many, but it's a real thing. Galvanized steel has a decent scrap value. Taking down a tower is not a trivial project, but it happens. I was responsible for a 800-ft tower in a past life, and a pager, a 4x4 truck, and a gun were considered required equipment. I opted for the first two, but wasn't prepared to commit to the responsibilities of the third. The most common theft scenario was an equipment smash-and-grab. But tower thefts were not unheard of.

WarOnPrivacy 3y ago
> tower thefts were not unheard of. US? I'm guessing you mean smaller towers like ~50' used for local links, utility radios, etc. Or do you mean like 75' or 150'+? Do people grab commercial towers?
- quesera 3y ago
  Definitely US. Small towers are much easier, but big towers get hit sometimes too. Usually when they are in a transitioning period (new, major maintenance, decomm) because the bigger the tower, typically the more antennas are on it, and the more parties who will notice it's disappearance quickly.