How would they know there is water inside the copper to make it a target?
Bizarre on the chewed pex piping.
Edited - changed pvc to pex after looking close at the photo
If you have to get in the ditch for any reason, wider will be better.
I would use the 12” bucket you have.
Run fiber for comm since it’s in the same ditch and no separation (noise interference). Also fiber is better against lightning.
His brick has already been vandalized on his home. No repair will ever look proper again. So, I would retain the existing penetration of the power and communication via the existing LB's at his house garage and find a way to deal with it.
Or add a junction box on the outside to conceal the...
I like that locking grip type pipe wrench! I have never seen that before.
I have some Vice Grip styles for pipes. Couple different sizes look like this.