Jim Vanderpool said he sits on his front porch almost daily late in the day to enjoy the cool air and movement of wildlife in the remote area of Smith Hollow Road near Lester.

But late Sunday, he was inside watching television when the water to his home shut off.

“We didn’t know what happened,” said Vanderpool. “But when we found out, we were shocked.”

Thieves stole 90 feet of copper wire that Vanderpool and several neighboring residents had installed in the spring next to their home leading to the pump house.

“I can’t believe someone would go in there and steal our wire,” he said. “It shut down water to my home and three of my neighbors. All of us were getting water from that area. But with the wire gone, it left us without water.”

Residents had no water from 8 p.m. Sunday until 5 p.m. Monday when more wire was installed.

“We fear they will come back so we just put temporary wire in there,” Vanderpool said. “I think it is a bunch of dope heads who will do anything to get money to buy their dope.”

Limestone County Investigator Lt. Brad Curnutt said they have no suspects at this time. He said the wire is valued at $150.

Capt. Stanley McNatt said copper wire has become popular for thieves, who take it to market for quick cash. McNatt said in the past the county has investigated a number of copper-wire thefts.

“We think they sneaked in on the back side of Keith Hollow, which is just south of our homes,” Vanderpool said. “The pump house is down there. But they stole it around 6 p.m. Sunday, right out in the broad day light.”

Vanderpool said he and neighboring residents, including many of his relatives, believe they know who might have stolen the wire and have alerted investigators.

“We think it is some young people, some dope heads who live in this area,” he said. “It’s hard to believe they would actually go in the spring and remove our wire and care less who it hurts.”

Residents say they will be watching closely from now on.