Two Arrested in Los Angeles Copper Wire Theft Sting; About 3,000 Feet of Stolen Telecommunications Wire Seized
Los Angeles — California Attorney General Rob Bonta, together with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the Los Angeles Police Department, announced on October 16 the results of a copper wire theft operation in downtown Los Angeles. During the operation, two people were arrested and approximately four tons of copper wire were seized, equivalent to approximately 3,000 feet of stolen telecommunications wire. The estimated value of the seized material is approximately $102,000. The operation was part of a statewide effort to address the surge in copper wire theft and infrastructure vandalism in California.
Bonta said copper theft carries a steep price and that the state is ensuring the criminals behind it are the ones who pay it, not California communities. He said his office would not tolerate actors who steal resources that plunge neighborhoods into darkness or cut off vital emergency services, and that it is working with law enforcement, business leaders and elected officials to stop the problem, prevent copper theft, secure infrastructure and protect Californians.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said copper wire theft is not simply a property crime but a serious public safety concern that can disrupt essential services, damage critical infrastructure and place communities at risk. He said the operation demonstrated his department's commitment to proactively identifying, investigating and holding accountable those responsible, and that the department would continue working with law enforcement and community partners to protect communities and safeguard critical infrastructure.
The Attorney General's Office said California has seen an increase in copper wire theft throughout the state, which has left neighborhoods in the dark, resulted in telecommunication and utility outages, impacted business and agricultural operations, and threatened public safety. The office listed the effects of copper theft and vandalism as disruptions to the 911 emergency system and law enforcement operations, power outages, backups and safety hazards on public transit, freeways, bridges and airports, service interruptions to streetlights and traffic lights, contamination of water and sewer systems, and disruptions to healthcare facilities and schools.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 洛杉矶市中心铜线盗窃执法行动中查获的被盗铜线（加州司法部2026年10月16日随新闻稿发布的照片）。Photo: California Department of Justice, official release / Stolen copper wire seized during the downtown Los Angeles operation (photo released with the October 16, 2026 announcement). Photo: California Department of Justice, official release.
