HOMES and businesses were left without internet for the second time in a month after residents reported thieves had snatched copper cabling.

Last month dozens of homes were cut off from the internet and phone lines after thieves raided a broadband box in Colchester Road, West Bergholt.

Openreach, which runs and maintains the UK’s digital’s network, was on the scene of the theft for days resolving the issue.

But after the box was secured, thieves resorted to removing nearby manhole covers to get at copper cabling.

This second strike was reportedly launched in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Residents reported seeing seven Openreach vans in Colchester Road as engineers attempted to resolve the issue.

One resident said: “Last time it was stolen we had the police call in to see if our doorbell camera had picked up anything.

“Unfortunately not, as the thieves turned their headlights off."

After the first theft, police said officers had dealt with 50 such incidents across the county since June 2021.

A spokesman said officers are not investigating the latest incident as "nothing was taken". 

An Openreach spokesman previously told the Gazette thefts of such cabling is becoming a common occurrence.

She said: “We are really disappointed people in West Bergholt and other parts of Essex are regularly bearing the brunt of criminal behaviour.

“Our security team is working closely with Essex Police and we’ve deployed additional security measures to protect our network from future attacks.”

She added: “We urge people to call 101 to report any suspicious activity to the police.

“Examples of this activity include seeing people lifting manhole lids or unusual activity around our network in fields late at night, particularly if it involves 4x4 vehicles.

“If members of the public do believe a crime is in progress then they should dial 999.”

Anyone with information can call 101.