Nebraska Deputies See Spike in Copper Wire Stolen from Irrigation Systems

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Since the beginning of 2025, the price of copper has increased approximately 30% here in the United States. With that uptick, it’s become not only more expensive for potential buyers, but more valuable for potential thieves.

Center-pivot irrigation systems are used by farmer’s around Nebraska, and use thousands of feet of copper wire to operate.

Since the start of the year, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office has seen two cases of wire stolen directly from the systems. One of those cases saw 2,000 feet of wire removed, resulting in a loss of $18,000. No arrests have been made for either.

Chief Deputy Ben Houchin added that it can sometimes take farmers up to a full month before they even notice the missing wire. By then, much of it has likely already been sold.

“As the copper prices go up we see these types of thefts go up too,” Houchin said. “We hadn’t seen them for several years. But now, with the copper and the tariffs going up, it’s sad to say that these are going to probably start to go up too. So we suggest to all farmers to go out and check your equipment.”

Gage County Sheriff’s Office also saw a similar theft reported in February where more than 1,200 feet of wire was stolen.

Now, sheriff’s offices in rural counties like Gage and York, along with Lancaster, are encouraging the people in them to report any suspicious behavior in them.

“If people any sort of suspicions that things are happening in the county just give us a call and we’ll help them out the best we can,” Sergeant Jordan Dickson of the York County Sheriff’s Department said.

 Courtesy: www.1011now.com