By Dino Ciliberti, Patch Staff
BUCKS COUNTY, PA —Nine people have been charged with stealing Verizon wires from utility poles throughout Bucks County and selling them as scrap, costing the utility company more than $250,000 to replace, authorities said.
Between May and October, the organization, who referred to themselves as the “Get Money Squad,” committed wire thefts in Lower Makefield Township, Upper Makefield Township, Warminster Township, Bensalem Township, and Bristol Township, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office said.
The evidence indicates some of those charged even posed as members of a search party looking for children swept away during the deadly July flash flooding in Upper Makefield, just so they could steal more wire.
The joint investigation found the group took advantage of the tragedy because of the size of the wire in that location and because they knew law enforcement would be overwhelmed with rescue efforts.
On Thursday, eight of the nine defendants were arrested for a variety of crimes that included corrupt organizations, criminal conspiracy, theft, receiving stolen property, theft of metal, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, criminal mischief, criminal use of a communication facility, and disruption of service.
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