Verizon Offers $50,000 Reward After Vandalism Leaves 1,100 Westchester County Customers Without Service

NEW YORK - Verizon is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of vandals who damaged Verizon facilities and left about 1,100 Verizon customers in Westchester County without service during the holiday weekend.

Vandals cut telephone cables at 10 separate locations Sunday morning in Larchmont, Mamaroneck, New Rochelle and Rye. Verizon crews continue to work round the clock to fully restore all service. As of late Tuesday afternoon, some 250 customers still remain without service.

"Vandalism not only affects vital telecommunications services but also puts people's lives in danger," said Jim Trainor, Verizon vice president of security. "Vandalism is a serious crime, and Verizon will do all it can to help law enforcement find and fully prosecute those responsible."

The company urges anyone with information about these crimes to contact Verizon at 800-997-3287. Those who witnesses similar acts of vandalism in progress should immediately call 911.

Verizon Communications

A Fortune 10 company, Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States, with 136.6 million access line equivalents and 33.3 million Verizon Wireless customers. Verizon is the third-largest long-distance carrier for U.S. consumers, with 13.2 million long-distance lines, and the company is also the largest directory publisher in the world, as measured by directory titles and circulation. With approximately $67 billion in annual revenues and 227,000 employees, Verizon's global presence extends to the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.

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