And from stories of gang warfare to something completely different. It's called copper theft - and it could drive up your cable, power and telephone bill.
That's because the prevalent practice is costing utility and television companies hundreds of thousands of dollars. We found out more about ti today:
This looks like just an old, worthless piece of old transmission cable, but because of the copper core that conducts the signal, it's real, valuable currency to copper thieves.
Anjali Vasquez, BTL Public Relations
"We've had tens of thousands of dollars alone for this year in losses and that's loss cost wise and loss in time, human resources and of course the most inconvenient thing of all is loss of service to our customers. We've had repeat offences in different areas of the city and even in the south where copper has been stolen from the same site over and over again."
One of those sites is here on Haulze street, where there are no telephone lines on the lamp-posts.
Anjali Vasquez, BTL Public Relations
"Haulze Street - actually we had to replace copper three times out there. One night after the next the copper was stolen and at time number three our technical experts had to decide what really is the best solution and in this case is to go wireless. When you steal copper you have no idea how many down the line are being affected. In Haulze Street alone we had 26 homes affected just by that one theft."
The crew of young men from this neighborhood - who would only speak to us off camera - boasted that they stole the copper wire and are waiting to do it again:
Copper Thieves
"If they out up the cable and we don't have any money, you know we have to take it down back. You know they are not paying us right. You know as they put it back we will take in down because we have to eat. If no money is not rolling then how will the ghetto youth eat? Everybody is living hard, when the PUP were in government everybody was getting their little end but it was tight. But you know now nothing is not running right now with this UDP government."
Jules Vasquez
"When you deal with this cable, are there somebody who will buy it or you have to go sell it yourself?"
Copper Thieves
"We can't say that information because we want them to put it back."
But BTL isn't bringing back the cable, all the telephone subscribers here have wireless home phones and internet service.
Anjali Vasquez, BTL Public Relations
"We launch a new network CDMA/EVDO network 3G that in efforts to provide people with consistent service with the risk if theft. We deployed voice and internet via that network."
Jules Vasquez
"So now these people have to access it wirelessly. There landlines are now wireless."
Anjali Vasquez, BTL Public Relations
"They are now wireless, correct."
Jules Vasquez
"But do they pay wireless rates?"
Anjali Vasquez, BTL Public Relations
"They pay the standard rates that they've always been paying. Of course it's a more expensive technology so the company foots that bill."
But apart from the economic cost, Vasquez says the consumer if most affected:
Anjali Vasquez, BTL Public Relations
"When copper is stolen from a cable 10-20 homes get affected down the line. Imagine have to pick up the phone in an emergency and you have a dead tone and you have no idea the reason why. This is a very dangerous thing to infringe on your community."
But these young men could care less - the harsh economic realities of their circumstance make the copper fair game:
Jules Vasquez
"How much does it worth?"
Copper Thieves
"All that I will say is that it will help us full our belly for a little while. It helps us buy bread and put food on the table."
Copper Thief
"Right now ghetto youth have to feed their brother and sister that have no mother. Right now we have to think."
Copper Thieves
"Once they come and we are not eating, you know that we have to eat too."
And while they have their own justifications the utility and cable companies have just about had enough.
Anjali Vasquez, BTL Public Relations
"We started reaching out to other companies and what we came to realize is everybody is being affected, every utility, the broadcasting association, BWS, BEL and everybody is being affected by it. As long as you have copper as part of your equipment you are being affected and when we look at that from a global perspective, the impact is huge."
Of course, the phone company is only a small part of the equation. Cable and power companies are most frequently targeted. The copper is sold and exported into Guatemala. Exporting copper has been outlawed, but it is still done illegally.
