Los Angeles—In a disconcerting turn of events for American infrastructure, the rising price of copper has prompted a surge in thefts that jeopardize essential services across the nation. As thieves resort to increasingly audacious tactics—from prying open manholes to scaling utility poles—communities are left grappling with the fallout: from darkened streets to disrupted telecommunications systems.
The Price of Copper Fuels Criminal Activity
Copper has long been a cornerstone of America’s electrical grid, embedded within the infrastructure that drives both telecom networks and city lighting. However, 2025 has witnessed an alarming spike in copper prices, pushing thieves to capitalize on the lucrative metal. According to a detective from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD) who spoke under the condition of anonymity, copper prices have surged more than 30% this year, driven by heightened demand related to new data center constructions and anticipated tariff adjustments under the Trump administration.
Evidence of this troubling trend is visible nationwide; from June 2024 to June 2025, there were over 15,000 incidents of destructive attacks on communication networks, with copper theft being a major contributor. This wave of theft has adversely impacted more than 9.5 million customers, particularly in California and Texas, which account for over half of these incidents.
Los Angeles: A Hotspot for Copper Theft
In Los Angeles, the incidence of copper theft has reached alarming proportions. The city, still recovering from its recent devastating wildfires, has become a primary target for thieves, particularly as it gears up to host international events like the World Cup in 2026 and the Olympics in 2028. The LASD has reported regular theft incidents, with the detective noting, “This doesn’t happen just once a week or once a month. These things happen daily.”
The Sixth Street Bridge, a significant city landmark unveiled in 2022, currently stands as a testament to this crisis. After thieves pilfered over 38,000 feet of copper wire from the bridge—resulting in $2.5 million in damages—the once-bustling structure now lies in darkness.
"We have multiple incidents just in our areas each day. It adds up,” the detective lamented.
Public Safety Risks and Legislative Responses
The consequences of these thefts extend beyond mere inconvenience; they pose serious threats to public safety. A spokesperson for Mayor Karen Bass stressed that copper theft is “not just a nuisance, but a threat to public safety.” The precarious state of urban infrastructure has created vulnerabilities that can lead to increased crime rates, with dark streets and downed telecom wires.
Recently, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new bill aimed at combating copper theft by heightening penalties and targeting junk dealers and recyclers who facilitate the trade of stolen copper. This initiative joins a growing number of states that are enacting similar measures in response to this troubling trend.
The Cost of Theft to Telecommunications Companies
The situation has not only alarmed city officials but has also caused significant financial strain on telecommunications companies. AT&T has reported a staggering 2,200 incidents of copper theft in California alone in 2024—an exponential increase from just 71 incidents in 2021. This ongoing crisis has led AT&T to spend over $60 million last year addressing the impacts of copper theft.
Jeff Luong, Vice President of Engineering at AT&T, highlighted the dual risk for the company: “A lot of times they don’t know what is copper versus fiber. So they’re just cutting cables,” further complicating service delivery and leading to more outages.
In response to the escalating crisis, AT&T has started offering rewards of up to $20,000 for information related to copper theft, underlining the urgency of addressing this issue. Furthermore, the company is facing an urgent need to replace its aging copper network with fiber-optic technology, a transition hindered by customers' willingness to switch plans.
A Future of Solutions?
As legislation begins to tighten around junk dealers and the cycling of stolen goods, the long-term health of America’s electrical grid and telecommunication networks remains at a critical juncture. The potential move toward solar-powered streetlights and fiber-optic networks signifies a progressive step towards protecting infrastructure from such opportunistic thefts.
Yet, as underscored by the LASD detective, “For now, it’s kind of the Wild West.” Until effective measures are firmly in place, the battle against copper theft and its repercussions will continue, demanding a collective response from officials, citizens, and industry players alike.
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