Oakland 911 System Disabled for Two Days by Copper Wire Theft
Thieves' vandalism of AT&T infrastructure knocked out emergency lines, computer systems, and internet service, prompting concern over public safety vulnerabilities.
A widespread outage that crippled Oakland's 911 emergency system for nearly two days was reportedly caused by the theft of copper and fiber-optic wires. The incident began Wednesday night when thieves allegedly vandalized critical AT&T infrastructure, disrupting not only emergency phone lines but also the city's internet and computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system.
System Failure and Rerouting
The communications meltdown started shortly after 8:30 p.m. Wednesday when dispatchers observed their CAD system freeze and display an error message. Attempts to use emergency and non-emergency phone lines and internet services also failed. Within an hour, incoming 911 calls were rerouted to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, which then relayed emergencies to Oakland police dispatchers. Some Oakland dispatchers were relocated to other emergency communications centers to maintain operations.
While fire dispatchers continued to handle medical and fire emergencies, police response was limited to the most critical incidents as authorities worked to restore the damaged network. Oakland Police Chief James Beere described the event as an unprecedented failure, stating he had never witnessed such a disruption to the city’s communication lines.
AT&T confirmed that criminal activity had damaged both copper and fiber-optic facilities, impacting emergency call routing for some customers in the Oakland area. By Thursday afternoon, the city’s CAD system was back online, but phone service remained impaired, necessitating continued reliance on temporary emergency communication arrangements.
Broader Outages and Investigation
The Oakland incident occurred as other California communities, including Riverside County and Santa Barbara, reported separate 911 disruptions on Thursday, primarily affecting cellphone users' ability to connect with emergency dispatchers. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office issued an alert on X (formerly Twitter), acknowledging the outage and providing an alternative emergency number. Officials have not confirmed if these other outages were connected to the Oakland vandalism.
Normal service was fully restored by Friday morning after repair crews worked around the clock. However, the culprits behind the incident remain at large. Chief Beere emphasized the potentially dire consequences of such acts, warning that theft could lead to severe outcomes, including loss of life, for residents unable to reach emergency services. He stated that investigators were pursuing leads and had contacted the FBI, though no arrests have been announced.
The vulnerability of the city’s emergency response network to such criminal activity has prompted officials to review infrastructure security. Beere mentioned discussions with the fire chief about alternative technologies that do not rely on vulnerable ground-based communication lines. Oakland Chief Information Officer Tony Batalla stated that the city would continue collaborating with AT&T and other partners to enhance its infrastructure's resilience.