California officials unite to tackle copper wire theft crisis

(FOX40.COM) — California Attorney General Rob Bonta met with local law enforcement, business leaders, utilities, and state and local officials to continue the conversation on combating copper wire theft.
• Video above: Yuba County officials report increase in copper wire theft

Bonta said California has seen an increase in copper wire thefts throughout the state, which have left neighborhoods in the dark, resulting in telecommunication and utility outages. This results in impacted business and agricultural operations, threatening public safety.

“Thieves who seek to profit from stolen copper wire aren’t just committing a crime; too often they are damaging critical infrastructure and endangering our communities,” said Bonta. “While the value of copper remains high, we can expect copper wire will continue to be a target of theft and vandalism, which is why we are bringing together Northern California leaders today to discuss collaborative solutions.”

When people commit copper theft and vandalism, it causes disruptions to the 911 emergency system and to law enforcement operations, power outages, backups and safety hazards on public transit, freeways, bridges and airports, Bonta stated.

“From law enforcement to state and local government, the telecommunications industry to the business community, and more: we all have a role to play in preventing copper theft, safeguarding our infrastructure, and protecting Californians. DOJ stands ready to support local law enforcement and work together to hold perpetrators accountable for their crimes,” Bonta said.

Between June and December 2024, the telecom industry alone reported over 6,000 incidents of copper theft and infrastructure vandalism nationwide, according to Bonta. People steal encased copper cables and cut them into short lengths before they burn them to remove the sheathing to reveal the raw copper inside.

Over one-third of those thefts happen in California, Bonta said.

The California Department of Justice stated that copper is then sold to scrap metal dealers, some of whom, over time, are willing to accept the valuable commodity purposely without knowing its origin.

“From public safety to health care, energy, transportation, financial systems, IT, education, and more, life today can hardly function without the infrastructure behind communications systems,” officials said in a press release.

The California DOJ said if you notice any suspicious activity to let the local law enforcement know as soon as possible.