What Are the Dangers of Copper Wire Theft?

With the increased price of copper, thieves steal copper wiring from public utilities such as lighting systems then sell the metal for scrap.

Dangers

Copper wire theft is dangerous to thieves. If the wire is a part of a live electrical system, the thief can receive an electric shock or be badly burned. Copper wire theft also puts people who live in the area in danger when street lights stop working because their wiring is gone.

Solutions

Community vigilance can reduce the dangers involved in cooper wiring theft. A person who reports a theft in progress prevents the thief from being injured and prevents services such as street lighting from being disrupted.

Considerations

Copper wire theft can also create environmental dangers. Thieves often burn wire to remove the copper inside it, which leaves behind dangerous amounts of heavy metals such as lead. In order to make the area safe for people again, professional environmental cleanup is required, according to a U.S. Bureau of Land Management news release.

References

• KABC-TV Los Angeles: Copper Wire Theft
• Mesa, Arizona: Mesa Combats Copper Theft
• Colorado Bureau of Land Management: Copper Wire Theft