Man Wanted for Alleged Cable Wire Theft in Brookhaven

Police say over $500,000 in cable has been stolen from the area in the last six months.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Brookhaven police are searching for a 36-year-old man named Michael McKay who is accused of stealing wires from communication cables near an apartment complex. Officers responding to the scene found a U-Haul truck with tools commonly used in cable thefts and over 100 sections of stolen cable belonging to AT&T. The company says the theft did not affect customer service, but they are working with law enforcement on the investigation.

Why it matters

Cable theft is a persistent problem that can disrupt critical communications infrastructure and services, impacting public safety and community access. This case highlights the scale of the issue, with hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses reported in the Brookhaven area alone over the past six months.

The details

According to police, Michael McKay allegedly stole the wires from cables near an apartment complex between Clairmont Road and Briarwood Road around 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Officers responding to the scene found a U-Haul truck with tools commonly used in cable thefts and over 100 sections of the stolen cable, which belonged to AT&T. The telecom company says the theft did not affect customer service in the Brookhaven area this week.

  • The alleged theft occurred around 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 28, 2026.
  • Police say over $500,000 in cable has been stolen from the area in the last six months.

The players

Michael McKay

A 36-year-old man wanted by Brookhaven police for criminal damage to property and criminal attempt to commit theft by taking.

AT&T

The telecommunications company whose cable was allegedly stolen by McKay, resulting in almost $500,000 in losses over the past six months.

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What’s next

Police are actively searching for Michael McKay and urge anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact the Brookhaven Police Department.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenge of cable theft, which can have significant impacts on critical communications infrastructure and services. It underscores the need for continued vigilance and collaboration between law enforcement, telecommunications providers, and the community to address this persistent problem.