Harris County man accused of stealing AT&T network gear, risking 911 services

More than 1,000 pounds of AT&T network cards vanished from terminal huts across Harris County, and investigators say the stolen hardware was the kind that can help keep 911 service, internet access and public-safety connections running.

Robert Chesser is accused of stealing Litespan and VRAD network cards over about six weeks, from September through October 2025, according to court records. Prosecutors say the thefts were not limited to ordinary scrap or resale targets. The equipment came from AT&T infrastructure used in communications systems tied to 911 services, hospitals, fire stations and police response.

Investigators traced the stolen gear to a Houston business, Texas Electronic Recyclers. That business has not been accused of wrongdoing. The complaint says an off-duty deputy spotted a vehicle linked to Chesser near one of the targeted AT&T terminals and later saw the driver pick up Chesser, helping connect him to the thefts.

The case underscores how quickly hidden telecom hardware can become a public-safety issue in a county as large as Harris County. A single terminal hut may not draw attention from people driving by, but the equipment inside can affect whether calls go through, whether internet service stays steady and whether emergency agencies keep communicating when the network is under strain.

AT&T says it has seen an alarming increase in copper theft and vandalism affecting its network infrastructure in recent years, especially in California, Texas and Missouri. The company says that kind of theft can disrupt service for customers, public safety and the broader community. Its public materials also describe ESInet and Next Generation 9-1-1 systems as part of the emergency communications backbone used to route calls and support first responders.

The Harris County case fits a wider regional pattern. In May, copper wire thefts in Houston were already being linked to interruptions that reached beyond home internet and into hospitals and first-response operations. In February, Houston-area agencies joined AT&T, Comcast, the Houston Police Department and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office to warn that cutting lines can make it harder for people to reach 911.

For Harris County, the stakes are tangible. The alleged theft of network cards weighed in at more than 1,000 pounds, but the bigger loss could have been reliability in the systems residents depend on when a call for help cannot fail.