NEWBURY PARK, Calif., Jan. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the individuals responsible for the thefts of copper communications cables in Southern California. The thefts have put public safety at risk for hundreds of customers and have caused unnecessary telephone and Internet service outages.

In recent months, over 12 incidents have occurred in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, with more than 10,000 feet of copper cable stolen and hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages. As a result of these crimes, thousands of Verizon local phone customers have unnecessarily experienced telephone and Internet service delays – up to several days in some cases – and endured risks to their personal safety.

"These thefts are more than an unnecessary inconvenience; they put people's lives in danger and can cost thousands of dollars to repair," said Margaret Serjak, California region president. "We will not tolerate these deliberate and malicious acts against our customers and our communications network."

Verizon is working closely with state and local law enforcement authorities to identify those responsible.

The company urges anyone with information about these crimes to contact Verizon Security at 1-800-997-3287, or local law enforcement authorities.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE,Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 106 million retail connections nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries. A Dow 30 company with more than $120 billion in 2013 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of 178,500. For more information, visit www.verizon.com/news / .

SOURCE Verizon

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