Copper cables cut and removed from a cell site (File Photo – CommScope)
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors established a $10,000 reward to help the City of Pasadena identify individuals stealing copper from street lights, city stock yards, and other public sites.
By News Desk
According to the City of Pasadena a surge has occurred since November 2023 and there have been approximately 34 copper theft incidents. The losses have resulted in a total of 25,900 feet of stolen wire – the equivalent of 4.9 miles of copper wire – and damage to 280 city lights.
The City of Pasadena is also planning to offer reward funds in coordination with the County and will soon share that information. A joint press conference is being planned for next week.
Supervisor Kathryn Barger said:
I am a strong supporter of local cities’ efforts to combat crime. I introduced this motion to send a clear message to thieves who are vandalizing public property: you will be held accountable. I’m hopeful these reward funds will encourage anyone with information about the thefts and destruction of public property to step forward.”
Anyone with information can contact the Pasadena Police Department at (626) 744-4501. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by dialing the Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at (800) 222-TIPS (8477) or online at lacrimestoppers.org.
A real element in copper wire theft as well as catalytic converters and metal grave markers is that there are people willing to pay something for obviously stolen items containing metals. Is law enforcement actively working on finding and prosecuting these criminals? Is pursuing criminal scrap metal buyers in the effort?