Innovative Telephone customers lost service again Tuesday as thieves stole copper wire right off the utility poles on St. Croix.

Within the last four weeks, there have been six incidents of wire theft from Innovative’s system. Tuesday night thieves stole two spans of cable, leaving more than 130 subscribers in Morning Star, Salt River Marina and Gentle Winds Condos out of telecommunication services, according to the company.

Innovative’s outside plant technical team were on the scene Wednesday repairing the damage.

In the past four weeks, the thieves have struck Estate Glynn on July 22; Estate Calquohoun on July 25; Estate Glynn and Estate Calquohoun on Aug. 1; and Estate Concordia, Salt River Marina and Gentle Winds Condos on Aug. 7.

In a news release Wednesday, Innovative public information officer Willa Fils noted that the same areas are being targeted by the thieves, and the thefts are causing a major economic strain on the company’s resources.

"Residents of these areas are asked to be very vigilant," Fils said, adding that purposeful disruption of telecommunication services is a federal offense because it may affect the ability of emergency responders and other individuals to communicate.

"Innovative has enlisted the aid of both the local and federal authorities in apprehending these perpetrators. Innovative officials are encouraging anyone with information concerning the theft to contact the local authorities," Fils said.