Man Charged After Brightspeed Cable Stolen Near Benson

BENSON, N.C. – An alert citizen who reported suspicious activity near N.C. 50 South helped Johnston County sheriff’s deputies arrest a man accused of cutting and stealing communications cable containing copper.

The incident occurred Aug. 13 near the intersection of N.C. 50 South and Woods Crossroads Road.

According to the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, a citizen reported seeing a vehicle stop along the highway and a man dressed in camouflage clothing get out and disappear into a wooded area.

A short time later, the witness reportedly saw the man emerge from the woods, cut a section of low-hanging Brightspeed communications cable, and then return to the wooded area.

Deputies responded and began searching the area. During the search, they located a person matching the description inside a vehicle.

The man was identified as Delbert Wayne Lane, 69, of Lee-Johnson Road, Dunn, a Johnston County address.

Following an investigation, Lane was charged with injury to property to obtain nonferrous metal and felony larceny.

Authorities allege Lane stole approximately $1,800 worth of cable containing copper. Damage associated with the theft was estimated at another $8,800.

The arrest comes days after a separate Brightspeed cable theft was reported in the same general area.

On Aug. 6, JoCoReport reported that the Sheriff’s Office was investigating the theft of approximately $10,000 worth of telephone cable along N.C. 50 South and Holly Grove Road in the Meadow community.

In that case, investigators said someone apparently used a vehicle to pull utility poles to the ground — or with enough force to break the poles — before cutting and removing sections of overhead cable.

Authorities believe that theft occurred sometime between July 17 and Aug. 4.

Investigators have not said whether the two incidents are connected.

The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office investigation is continuing.