Pasadena Officials Hope Mass Arrest in LA Copper Wire Thefts Will Lead to Local Breakthrough

Pasadena officials are optimistic that recent mass arrests in Los Angeles for copper wire thefts will help address similar issues locally. Copper wire theft has been a significant problem in Pasadena, leading the city to offer a $10,000 reward for information leading to arrests and convictions.

On July 24, approximately 90 feet of copper wire, valued at over $540, was stolen from two pull boxes near the bridge on West Holly Street, according to Pasadena Police Lieutenant Matt Campeau. Officers responded to the theft report at 1:35 p.m.

Two weeks earlier, 900 feet of copper wire, worth thousands of dollars, was stolen from five city street lights near Los Robles Avenue and Mountain Street. Over three months, 30 incidents resulted in five miles of wire stolen and 280 city lights damaged.

Former Public Works Director Tony Olmos reported that since January 2023, there have been 45 copper theft incidents, with 33 occurring since November. These thefts have affected 360 street lights and two traffic signals, costing the city $50,000 in the past year.

READ  Discover Pasadena’s New Boba Trail: A Taiwanese American Delight