I know a guy from south africa. That country was forced to switch to fiber optics at least a decade sooner than the US because copper pirates were everywhere. H

I know a guy from south africa. That country was forced to switch to fiber optics at least a decade sooner than the US because copper pirates were everywhere. He was telling me 20 years ago that it was not uncommon for someone there to access some copper wiring through a manhole/pole tie a chain to it, and just drive away taking as much cable as would come from snapping off. I thought it was wild and couldn’t understand how it was worth the effort. Fast forward 20 years, and I’m starting to hear reports of similar tactics in the US.