KTLA

L.A. creates task force to address copper theft

Cameron Kiszla

An employee monitors the 8mm diameter copper cable which is rolled up before passing through a rolling mill to become cable at the Nexans manufacture in Lens, northern France, on May 11, 2022. (Denis Charlet / AFP via Getty Images)

With copper theft impacting thousands of lights and other pieces of city property, the Los Angeles City Council authorized the creation of a task force on Wednesday.

The Los Angeles Police Department and Bureau of Street Lighting will work together to combat “the spike in copper wire crimes in downtown L.A., Boyle Heights, El Sereno, and Lincoln Heights,” LAist reports.

Councilman Kevin de León told KTLA last month that the city has spent tens of millions of dollars to repair the damage caused by these thefts, which often involve thieves using saws to break through metal panels.

A spot on the deck of the 6th Street Bridge in Los Angeles where copper wire had been forcefully removed from a metal panel in the ground. (KTLA)
A spot on the deck of the 6th Street Bridge in Los Angeles where copper wire had been forcefully removed from a metal panel in the ground. (KTLA)
Pasadena light poles have been targeted by copper thieves. (KTLA)

When speaking with KTLA’s Jacqueline Sarkissian, he pointed to areas of the 6th Street Bridge where thefts had occurred.

“In my district alone, we have about 3,700 lights that are completely out,” de León said. “We are on the 6th Street Bridge right now … half of the bridge is completely dark because these thieves have broken into the metal panels.” 

In addition to the monetary cost, copper theft has resulted in delays to construction of the L.A. Metro rail system, according to the Los Angeles Times.