Copper wire thefts disrupt transit across California; new bill aims to tackle crime

Theft of copper wire from transit tracks has become a growing issue for counties across California, leading to service disruptions and thousands of dollars in damage, as new legislation looks to prevent the crime.

In Sacramento, the regional transit agency said it experienced nearly 50 instances of copper-wire theft or vandalism, with each case costing $10,000 to $20,000 in damages and labor costs.

Closures can last anywhere from a few hours to days, depending on the extent of the damage, with the only stopgap being bus route alternatives, which can add 45 minutes to an hour to commute times, according to Jessica Gonzalez, spokesperson for SacRT.

“It's definitely a huge impact to our agency (sic), something that we're really trying to turn around, and I know it impacts transit agencies not only across the state but across the country as well,” Gonzalez said.

The legislation, authored by Los Angeles assemblymember Mark González, targets organized metal theft by increasing penalties and improving interagency communication. 

 González said Los Angeles has been hit hard by rampant wire thefts that disrupt transit service and knock out streetlights.

“Copper wire thieves have taken it too damn far," said Assemblymember Mark González, in a statement. "Time and time again, we see news stories of thieves destroying street lighting, cutting phone lines, or even damaging public transportation infrastructure – walking away with scraps worth a couple of hundred bucks, yet costing our cities millions in repairs.

Across Sacramento, Jessica Gonzalez says SacRT has implemented several strategies to prevent copper wire theft, such as increasing patrols, adding more surveillance cameras, and replacing copper wire with stainless steel.

“It's not a good situation. We really, again, made it our priority to stop this because it impacts our riders, it impacts us, our full community. Gonzalez said. “We appreciate that the legislature is now acknowledging this problem; it's not just a single Sacramento issue. This is a statewide issue.”

The bill would go after metal theft in the same vein as recently enacted organized retail theft legislation by creating a new category of crime: organized copper theft. It would also create a statewide data-sharing system to help law enforcement agencies identify patterns of theft.

“Copper prices are at historic highs, and thieves are taking advantage, stripping our communities of safety, lighting, and essential services,” Asm. Mark González said at a recent public safety committee meeting.

The legislation is opposed by criminal justice groups like Community Works West, which argue it is redundant with existing theft crimes and would only increase punishments without addressing the roots of crime.

“Creating a new crime for organized metal theft and increasing penalties will not prevent harm. It will only deepen the existing racial disparities that have come to define our legal system,” said Katarina Sayally, with Community Works at the public safety committee meeting.

The bill passed out of the public safety committee and will be heard in appropriations.

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