WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. (WKYT) - People who live along Highway 92 in Whitley County say they're frustrated over phone service interruptions officials say are caused by thieves cutting copper from phone lines.

"They'll fix them maybe one day, that night they'll cut wire again. We won't have them until way up in the next day," said Jeanette Hill.

State Police said copper thieves were cutting copper from the phone lines as fast as crews could replace them. Some people who live here say it's a threat.

"It is scary because if anything was to happen and we needed a doctor, we wouldn't have any way to get ahold of anybody," said Hill.

They say if the phone lines are down, it's an eight-mile drive to Williamsburg to get cell phone service.

"You just got to go to town and hope the ambulance can get here in time. It's eight miles to town and, you know, a lot can happen in eight miles," said Ford Woods.

Woods runs a trucking service from his home and said the interruptions can cause big trouble for his business.

"It's real bad. You lose a lot of money," he said.

While crews worked to put the lines back up, Woods said he hoped the thieves don't get away.

"I hope they catch these people. Yeah, I do. It takes a low person to do that," he said.

People along the road hoped the repair would fix the problem for good, but they said they wouldn't know for sure until they pick up that phone and hope to hear a dial tone.