Durham, N.C. — The theft of two aerial cables left about 480 Verizon customers without landline or cell phone and Internet service in parts of southern and eastern Durham on Saturday.

Thieves stole a cable at Hopson Road and another at 1014 S. Hoover Road. The thieves most likely wanted the copper in the cables, said Bob Elek, a media-relations manager for Verizon.

The customers affected include businesses and residences.

The theft of the Hoover Road cable impacted about 400 working connections, including those in the Wellons Village area, near N.C. Highway 54. That repair required Verizon to find 730 feet of a specialty cable, Elek said. The cable was driven in from a location about 90 miles away.

Temporary restoration of service might be possible, but company officials cautioned customers in the Hoover Road area not to expect full restoration until sometime Sunday.

The theft of the Hopson Road cable affected about 80 working connections. That service should be restored early Sunday, because the cable stolen was of a more common variety, Elek said.