YULEE, Fla. – Nassau County officials said more than 80 batteries have been stolen from outside Comcast power supply boxes in the past two weeks.
The thieves are taking them and then selling them for about $100 apiece.
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So far, the thieves have hit several major roads in Yulee, including Blackrock, Roses Bluff, Harts and Pirates roads, but Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper said this could happen to any cable customer.
And many times the customers never know about it, because the thieves don't burglarize boxes on the side of homes.
They're going after power supply boxes that back up the main system. So unless there's a problem that forces Comcast to switch to backup power, customers will likely never know about the theft.
The thieves have made about $8,400 off 84 stolen 12-volt batteries in the past two weeks.
Leeper said whoever is doing it has the knowledge to open the boxes and might have a key, and that is a concern to customers.
"It makes you wonder, because if they have a key and they can steal a battery from near your house, they've already been inside your house to install the equipment," said Comcast customer Maria Wilder. "Who says they're not going to come back and go a little step further?"
According to the Nassau County Sheriff's Office, approximately 15 Comcast technicians and many more subcontractors have access to the boxes. The Sheriff's Office is investigating the thefts, and Leeper said residents should be on the alert.
"If you see someone around these cable boxes, give us a call and we'll respond and make sure they work for Comcast and they're supposed to be around one of these boxes," Leeper said.
Comcast will have to pay to replace the stolen batteries.
Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.