WHITEFIELD — Three China residents caught by police while allegedly stealing communications cable Friday morning are suspected of multiple similar thefts involving as much as $230,000 in loss and damages.

Steve French, 54, his brother, Reggie French, 49, and Reggie French’s girlfriend, Jennifer Decosta, 44, were caught just after 5 a.m. Friday allegedly in the act of stealing communications cable from poles alongside Jefferson Road in Whitefield.

The trio, according to a news release from Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Michael Murphy, were using a ladder and a shepherd’s hook to pull down the cable, and a power grinder to cut the cable. They are accused of stealing the cable for the copper wire inside of it.

Murphy said the trio is suspected in multiple such acts around the Midcoast area, with Consolidated Communications estimating its loss and damages at $230,000. He said the thefts were the focus of an intensive investigation in recent weeks.

The Friday morning attempted cable theft on Jefferson Road, which is also Route 126, caused about $10,000 in damages, Murphy said.

The three were each charged with aggravated criminal mischief, a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Murphy said additional charges are expected.

Anyone with information about the alleged incidents may contact Lincoln County Detective Sgt. Ron Rollins at 882-7332, or rrollins@lincolnso.me.