Theft of Copper Wiring

The theft of copper wiring from our city's street light system has risen to alarming levels, leading Councilmember Tom LaBonge to call for the public's help in nabbing the thieves and for a task force to address ways to curb the problem. “This rash of copper wire theft is compromising the city’s ability to provide street lighting in our neighborhoods, which has a very negative impact in terms of public safety,” said Councilmember LaBonge who introduced a motion in Council Tuesday, Dec. 4, to address the issue.

Thieves have removed 370,000 feet of copper wiring and disabled about 700 streetlights out of the city's system of 200,000 streetlights -- costing the city nearly $1 million to date. The cost of copper wiring has skyrocketed and can be sold for as much as $30 a pound as scrap. The most heavily impacted areas include a three-miles stretch of the Los Angeles River Bikeway in CD4, Boyle Heights in CD14 and Wilmington in CD15. Police encourage constituents to write down license plate numbers and contact them when they see people other than city crews removing streetlight wire. They can call also 911 if they observe the crime happening.