Verizon announced Tuesday it was offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for cutting fiber-optic cables over the weekend, causing a widespread service outage across Southern California.
The outage disrupted wireless and home internet service Sunday for thousands of customers after what Verizon described as intentional vandalism involving multiple fiber cuts. Service was restored later that evening.
“These intentional acts directly threaten public safety and emergency response,” Verizon said in announcing the reward.
Verizon said it is working with law enforcement agencies to identify those responsible and urged anyone who witnesses suspicious activity near telecommunications equipment to call 911 and then notify the company’s security department.
Citing the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, Verizon said California recorded 6,297 attacks on communications networks in 2025, resulting in an estimated $252.6 million in economic losses. Los Angeles accounted for 1,131 of those incidents.
The company said it has joined industry efforts to combat network vandalism, including the STRIKE initiative, a coalition of telecommunications providers focused on intelligence sharing and coordinated efforts to address copper theft and fiber-optic cable cuts.
Verizon also noted it supported recently enacted California legislation requiring junk dealers and recyclers to maintain more detailed records of metal purchases, a measure intended to help deter theft of communications infrastructure.
Anyone with information about suspicious activity involving Verizon facilities is urged to contact the company’s security department at 800-997-3287 after notifying local law enforcement.