Southern California Verizon outages caused by vandalism, officials say

Verizon customers woke up disconnected

A morning can feel different when your phone suddenly stops working. Verizon customers across Southern California faced that problem Sunday. Several service outages were reported across the region. Some customers said their service disappeared around 7 a.m.

That left people without normal phone or internet access. For many, the disruption interrupted work and daily plans. The outages affected some mobility and internet customers. Verizon later began restoring the affected services.

Vandals cut multiple fiber cables

Verizon said vandals cut multiple fiber cables for customers. The company said those cuts caused service interruptions. The affected network supported some phone and internet customers. Fiber cables carry digital information across long distances.

When cables are damaged, connections can stop working. Crews then need to locate and repair the damaged lines. Verizon described the incident as network theft and vandalism. The company did not identify a specific cutting location.

Repairs began Sunday afternoon

Repair crews were working on the damaged network Sunday afternoon. Verizon said repairs were already underway at that time. The work focused on restoring damaged fiber connections. The company expected service to be fully restored by evening.

That timeline gave customers a target for recovery. Actual restoration could vary across different network areas. Some connections may return before others during repairs overall. Verizon continued working until most service was restored.

Service was restored by 7:30 p.m.

Verizon said service was fully restored by 7:30 p.m. Sunday after crews worked through the day repairing the damaged network. Some customers had regained service earlier, including by around 6 p.m.

Restoration times varied as technicians repaired affected portions of the network. By Sunday evening, Verizon said the widespread disruption caused by the cut fiber cables had been resolved.

Fun fact: Corning says it developed the first commercially viable low-loss optical fiber in 1970, helping transform modern communications.

Some customers lost service for hours

For affected customers, the outage lasted several hours. People told CBS LA they had been without service since about 7 a.m. Losing phone or internet access can disrupt normal routines. It can also affect work, travel, and family communication.

The outage happened during the day. Customers used options while service was unavailable. The length of the disruption varied by location. Service gradually returned as repair work continued throughout the day.

Exact cable locations were not released

Verizon did not identify the places where cables were severed. That left the precise damage locations unclear. Company officials confirmed that multiple cables had been cut there. They did not provide locations for damaged lines.

That made it difficult to connect outage reports. Different customers may have been affected by different network sections. Officials continued working without naming the exact sites. The scope of the physical damage was still unclear.

Police received vandalism reports

Los Angeles Police Department officials also lacked a specific cable location. Police said they had received vandalism reports in the San Fernando Valley. Those reports raised questions about a connection. However, police did not confirm that link.

Verizon likewise did not say the reports caused its outage. The information showed vandalism had been reported there. Investigators would need more evidence to connect the events. For now, the relationship remains unclear.

The connection to police reports is unclear

The San Fernando Valley reports do not explain the outage directly or fully at present. Police had not confirmed that the same vandalism caused both events. Verizon also did not make that connection. Reports can involve separate incidents.

That distinction matters during an investigation. A direct link would require more evidence from investigators. Until then, the reports should be considered separately. The circumstances surrounding the cable cuts remain unclear publicly.

Why fiber cables matter to customers

Fiber cables help carry large amounts of digital information. They support connections used for internet and phone services. Those links can serve many customers at the same time. Damage can interrupt service until crews repair the damaged lines.

A cut may not affect every nearby customer at once. The impact depends on how the network is designed and operates. Repair crews restore connections by fixing damaged cable sections safely.

Fun fact: Optical fiber can carry voice, data and video by transmitting information through light signals inside thin glass strands.

Verizon called vandalism a safety concern

Verizon said network theft and vandalism can affect communities. The company warned that damaged networks can disrupt communications. First responders and public safety officials rely on connectivity. Those connections can be especially important during emergencies.

Verizon called the damage a threat to community safety. The company said these incidents are not simple property crimes. That statement highlights the wider effects of network damage on communities. Reliable communications matter for public services and responders.

The outage affected Southern California

The disruptions involved Verizon customers across Southern California. Verizon did not release a complete public map showing every customer affected, and it did not disclose the total number of people who lost service.

Some customers reported problems beginning Sunday morning, while restoration occurred in stages during the day. Verizon said service was fully restored by 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

Service problems can have many causes

Service outages can happen for many different reasons. In this case, Verizon specifically blamed cut fiber cables. The company said vandalism caused the reported interruptions. Repairs began Sunday afternoon to address the damage.

The exact location of the cuts was not disclosed. Police also had no confirmed location for the cable damage. Reports from the San Fernando Valley remained unconnected.

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Most customers saw service restored

Verizon said service was fully restored by 7:30 p.m. Sunday after crews worked through the day repairing damaged fiber connections. Some customers had regained connectivity earlier as restoration progressed across affected parts of the network.

Verizon blamed multiple cut fiber cables for the disruption. LAPD had separately received vandalism reports in the San Fernando Valley, but authorities had not publicly confirmed that those reports were connected to the outage.

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What was your experience with the Verizon outage? Share your thoughts in the comments and let us know if your service was affected.

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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