FBI seeks vandals who cut Bay Area fiber-optic cables

Vandals have severed fiber-optic cables throughout the Bay Area over the past year, according to the FBI. Vandals have severed fiber-optic cables throughout the Bay Area over the past year, according to the FBI. Photo: Paul Chinn Photo: Paul Chinn Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close FBI seeks vandals who cut Bay Area fiber-optic cables 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

The FBI asked for the public’s help Monday in identifying people who have severed underground fiber-optic cables throughout the Bay Area.

Over the past year, vandals have used tools to intentionally cut the cables in Berkeley, Fremont, Alamo, Walnut Creek and San Jose in 10 separate incidents, most of which happened in the middle of the night, said FBI Special Agent Greg Wuthrich. The cost of the damage was not discosed.

The FBI is coordinating the investigation, which involves several local law enforcement agencies, Wuthrich said.

The cases are not related to a mysterious rifle attack on a Pacific Gas and Electric Co. substation near San Jose on April 16, 2013, that damaged 17 transformers and caused $15 million in damage, authorities said.

But in April 2009, vandals cut underground fiber-optic cables at four sites, knocking out landlines, cell phones and Internet service for tens of thousands of people in Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties.

It was not immediately known whether the same suspects might be responsible for all of the more recent damage to the fiber-optic cables, authorities said. A motive was also unclear.

In most cases, the fiber-optic cables were stored underground and were accessible through manhole-type covers, Wuthrich said. The cables belonged to various telecommunications companies, including AT&T, he said.

An AT&T spokesman had no immediate comment Monday.

It’s possible the vandals were dressed like telecommunications workers so as not to arouse any suspicion, FBI officials said.

The vandalism occurred at the following times and locations:

2014:

— July 6, 9:44 p.m., near Seventh and Grayson streets, Berkeley

— July 6, 11:39 p.m., near Niles Canyon Road and Mission Boulevard, Fremont

— July 7, 12:24 a.m., near Jones Road and Iron Horse Trail, Walnut Creek

— July 7, 12:51 a.m., near Niles Canyon Road and Alameda Creek, Fremont

— July 7, 2:13 a.m., near Stockton and University avenues, San Jose

2015:

— Feb. 24, 11:30 p.m., near Niles Canyon Road and Mission Boulevard, Fremont

— Feb. 24, 11:30 p.m., near Niles Canyon Road and Alameda Creek, Fremont

— June 8, 11 p.m., near Danville Boulevard and Rudgear Road, Alamo

— June 8, 11:40 p.m., near Overacker and Mowry avenues, Fremont

— June 9, 1:38 p.m., near Jones Road and Parkside Drive, Walnut Creek

Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI’s San Francisco office at (415) 553-7400 or visit tips.fbi.gov.

Henry K. Lee is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: hlee@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @henryklee