Surge in copper wire thefts costs Long Beach hundreds of thousands in repairs
According to a report by The Guardian, copper prices surged 35% in 2025 due to fears of a potential shortage of the metal.
SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Copper theft has spiked dramatically in Long Beach in recent years and is now costing exponentially more taxpayer money to address, according to information shared by Long Beach City staff.
Many parts of public infrastructure rely on the use of copper, such as street lights, power lines, phone lines and water/sewer systems. Copper thieves have been known to break through cement, scale utility poles or climb down manholes to rip out copper, causing expensive and long-lasting damage.
In 2021, there were 25 instances of copper theft that cost the City of Long Beach approximately $15,000 to repair. That number jumped to 222 instances of copper theft in 2025, which cost the City $220,000, according to data shared by Transportation Services Bureau Manager Dawn Henderson.
The Signal Tribune contacted the Public Works Department four times since Feb. 16 to ask how many street lights are currently inoperable due to copper theft, but did not receive a response as of March 4. Should it provide those numbers at a future date, the Signal Tribune will update our story.
According to a report by The Guardian, copper prices surged 35% in 2025 due to fears of a potential shortage of the metal. Concerns of a shortage began following multiple accidents at copper mines around the world, as well as recent resource hoarding by companies following threats by President Donald Trump to increase tariffs on imported copper.
Henderson said it takes the City significantly longer to repair street lights if the copper wiring has been ripped out.
Copper theft has also increased across the state. According to a report by the New York Times, telecom company AT&T reported 71 copper thefts in California in 2021 and 2,200 in 2024.
“While the value of copper remains high, we can expect it will continue to be a target of theft and vandalism, unless we step in now and do something about it,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a public statement in summer 2025. “From law enforcement to state and local government, the telecommunications industry to the business community, and advocacy organizations and nonprofits; we all have a role to play in preventing copper theft, securing our infrastructure, and protecting Californians.”
Although California Penal Code section 496a requires metal and junk dealers to collect identifying information on every person who sells them copper materials, as well as a detailed description of what they purchased, a thriving copper black market continues.
According to the California Department of Justice, when someone steals copper from public infrastructure it can lead to the disruption of emergency systems like 911 calls, power outages, issues with street lights and traffic lights, contamination of water and sewer systems, and safety hazards for public transit, freeways, bridges and airports.
Multiple media outlets reported that in January thieves had ripped out the copper wiring from electrical boxes at the baseball field in Stearns Champions Park used by the Long Beach Little League, destroying the lights the kids need to play after dark.
The Signal Tribune contacted LBPD to ask if any suspects had been arrested or identified in connection to this crime, but did not hear back as of March 4.
“We are certainly hit within the parks as well with copper theft and copper vandalism for our park lights, our sports field lights, and it has become a real issue, and so we’ve taken a number of proactive steps to try to make it harder for vandalism,” Director of Parks, Recreation and Marine Stephen Scott said during the State of the District 9. “We’re never going to be able to say it is going to be absolutely vandal-proof or theft-proof, but we want to make it as hard for those people who are trying to vandalize or steal the copper as possible.”
Scott said that the City is reinforcing its pull boxes with a layer of sand below a layer of concrete that is epoxied shut. He also said that while it will make the copper harder to steal, it will also make it more difficult for city workers to access the wiring if repairs are needed.
“We’re doing everything we can to make it as hard as possible to gain access to those pull boxes,” Scott said.
The Long Beach Police Department recommends that the public use the following tips to help prevent copper theft in their communities:
-Encourage immediate reporting of suspicious vehicles in alleys, individuals tampering with utility infrastructure and nighttime activity around commercial buildings
-Ensure adequate lighting around exterior utility areas, rooftops and alleyways
-Trim landscaping around utility boxes, AC units and electrical panels so no one can hide in them
-Encourage neighbors to report suspicious after-hours activity
-Install locking enclosures or cages around HVAC units and exposed piping
-Use tamper-resistant screws or hardware on utility access panels
-Consider security camera systems with visible signage
-Secure gates and rooftop access points
-Don’t leave ladders unattended near buildings
-Ensure vacant properties are properly secured and inspected regularly
-Mark copper wiring or equipment with engraving, traceable paint and serial documentation
Courtesy: www.sigtrib.com