Police lay in wait in a van before arresting the 40-year-old from Tenterden at an industrial unit in Dartford on October 8.
A 23-year-old was also arrested at his home in Ashford, both on suspicion of theft, conspiracy to steal and money laundering.
Large quantities of copper cabling were reported to have been stolen from a substation on Maidstone Road, Sevenoaks, on September 15 and another in Guildford in Surrey on October 6.
Reels of copper cabling was seized from a scrap dealership following the arrests and both men have since been released on bail pending further enquiries.
Sergeant Ross Haybourne of Kent Police’s Rural Task Force said: “The theft of copper cabling can cause widespread disruption to phone and broadband services and other utilities, leaving homes and businesses without vital communication links.
“It can also pose serious risks to public safety, especially for vulnerable individuals who rely on landlines to access emergency services including in rural areas where there may be fewer people to seek help from.
“We take all such thefts seriously and carry out investigations to recover the stolen property and bring those responsible to justice.”
