The Delaware State Police have arrested and charged Brian Paraskiewicz, a 35-year-old resident of Wilmington, for his involvement in a series of copper wire thefts police said Wednesday.
These thefts targeted Verizon Wireless infrastructures throughout New Castle County and have caused significant disruptions in internet and phone services for Verizon customers. After months of investigation, the authorities were able to identify Paraskiewicz as one of the individuals responsible for one of these criminal acts police said.
The investigation into the thefts began in January 2023 when law enforcement officers noticed a pattern of copper wire thefts from Verizon Wireless infrastructures. The suspects in these incidents would climb utility poles, cut the copper telephone wires, and make off with the valuable material. As a result, Verizon customers experienced outages in their phone and internet services, causing inconvenience and frustration for many individuals and businesses.
On March 10, 2023, at approximately 2:24 p.m., Delaware State Police Troop 2 Property Crimes Detectives were alerted to yet another report of copper wire theft, this time in the area of Kirkwood Highway and Newport Gap Pike. The detectives initiated a thorough investigation, gathering evidence and collecting information that would eventually lead them to the identification of Paraskiewicz as one of the suspects in the ongoing thefts.
After months of detective work, investigators arrested Paraskiewicz on July 12, 2023, when he turned himself in at Troop 2. He was charged with several serious offenses, including Theft Over $1,500, Criminal Mischief, and Conspiracy Second Degree.
Following his surrender, Paraskiewicz appeared before Justice of the Peace Court 2 for arraignment. The court set his bond at $7,500 unsecured.
Copper wire thefts have become an increasingly prevalent issue in recent years due to the rising value of the metal. Criminals target telecommunication and utility companies, seeking to profit from the sale of stolen copper wires.