JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. - The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office announced felony charges against two suspects accused of stealing communication wires in an apparent attempt to find scrap metal.

Authorities identified Andrew Underwood and John Leach as the two suspects accused of stealing wires.  Leach was given a $25,000 cash-only bond.  

Underwood is jailed without bond.

Grant Bissell, public safety information coordinator for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, said it’s not unusual to see judges deny bond in these cases.  

He said wire thefts have become a problem across the country.

“Hospitals, schools, 911 dispatch centers—these are all being affected by these lines that are being cut that carry so much critical data,” Bissell said.

Earlier this year, authorities responded to a fiber optic line that was damaged near Highway 61/67 and Autumn Oaks Drive.

“I wish they would get jobs so they didn’t have to steal their money,” said Kelly Stefanus, an Imperial resident.  “That would be great. We all have to work for a living.”

Spectrum announced a reward of up to $25,000 for tips leading to arrests in cases involving damage to the company’s infrastructure. Spectrum stated that its cables/lines do not contain copper or other precious metals.

“The problem is that the thieves don’t seem to know which is which and they’re just going and cutting everything that they can,” said Bissell. 

Stefanus expressed support for the reward and hopes it leads to accomplices turning on each other.

“Maybe they’ll want more money than what they got from stealing the wiring,” she said.