Two men have been arrested following a police operation targeting the alleged theft of phone and broadband cables across Kent and Surrey. The arrests come as part of a wider investigation into a suspected cable theft conspiracy that has disrupted communication lines in the region.
The probe focused on the theft of large quantities of copper cabling reported stolen from a substation on Maidstone Road, Sevenoaks, on Monday, September 15, 2025, and a second substation in Guildford, Surrey, on Monday, October 6, 2025.
On Wednesday, October 8, officers moved in, arresting a 23-year-old man at his home in Ashford and a 40-year-old man from Tenterden at an industrial unit in Dartford. Both suspects were detained on suspicion of theft, conspiracy to steal, and money laundering. Police also confirmed that a significant amount of copper cabling was seized from a scrap metal dealership as part of the operation.
The two men have since been released on bail as officers continue their further enquiries into the alleged criminal network.