Love 97FM North, the Freeport-based radio station owned by Jones Communications International Ltd (JCN) became the latest target of copper wire thieves who ransacked the station’s transmitter site over the weekend leaving behind thousands of dollars in damages.

Wendall Jones, CEO of JCN, broke the news of the hit during his midday radio show, Issues of the Day.

Mr. Jones quickly expressed his disappointment over the situation before breaking for commercial in order to regroup.

Employees of Love North discovered that the transmitter site located at East Settler’s Way in Freeport had been targeted by thieves when they conducted an inspection of the site Monday.

“Our transmitter room was vandalised and they stripped pieces of the generator, the A/C unit was stripped as well and the culprits stole copper wire that was on the tower and buried underground,” said Kristen Jones, sales and marketing manager at JCN. “It’s just very unfortunate but what are you going to do.”

Ms. Jones added that the cost of the damage left behind is estimated to be more than $7,000.

Love 97 North is among a growing list of companies ripped to be off this way.

The Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC), the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas (BCB) and the Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) have all been targeted by thieves mostly in search of copper.

Two years ago the then government sought to address the illegal conduct arising from the proliferation of the scrap metal industry by imposing a ban on the export of copper.

Since then, new legislature has also been enacted to better regulate the industry and reduce instances of criminal behaviour.

Meanwhile, Ms. Jones said that despite this latest setback, Love North remains on air servicing the Grand Bahama listening area.