Cable theft leaves properties without phone lines (From Haringey Independent)

Cable theft leaves properties without phone lines

5:09pm Friday 31st August 2012 in News By Bruce Thain

Homes and businesses have been left without phone and internet due to a cable theft in Tottenham.

Properties in the White Hart Lane area have been left without any phone line and people have been told they can expect it back up and running again by Monday.

Approximately 135 metres of cable is being replaced after the theft which is believed to have occurred on Wednesday morning.

The Somerset Gardens Family Care Centre, in Creighton Road, has been left without its phone line for the last two days.

Marian Lombardelli, managing partner at the surgery said: “On Wednesday we came in and the phones weren’t working. We were all surprised and after contacting BT we were told it was cable theft in the area.

“I was shocked and it had really disrupted the running of the surgery over the last few days. We’ve got a plan in place and we’re doing the best we can.

“People aren’t able to call us and we are not able to call them and let them know what is happening.”

Calls for the surgery have been diverted to a message handler but this is offering a very limited service.

Causeway Housing Association, which is based in Pretoria Road, is also having trouble with only one phone line working and no internet access.

Manageing director Joanne Murrary said: “It’s so frustrating. We have tenants who won’t be able to pay for their rent over the phone.

“It’s such an inconvenience and some of our customers who can’t pay their rent may go out and spend it over the weekend which will be an issue next week.

“All of our records are online on a different server so we can’t do anything here and it means we’re just getting behind on work and deadlines.”

Engineers from BT are working  to replace around 135 metres of damaged cable and have now started the process of reconnecting those affected back into service.

A spokesman for BT said: “We are doing all we can to get these repairs completed and service restored as quickly as possible and hope to have completed this repair to all by the end of Monday.

“Some will have seen their services restored and this will continue as work progresses this evening and over the weekend. We had around 700 reported faults from people affected at the peak of this.”

BT has also offered a reward of up to £1000 for information leading to arrests and subsequent successful convictions.

Those with any information about the theft are being called to get in contact with police.