Soaring Copper Prices Fuel Wave of Theft Across U.S. Infrastructure

For over a century, copper wiring has been the backbone of America's power grid, strung across utility poles and buried underground. But rampant theft now threatens critical infrastructure, with thieves scaling rooftops to sever cables or brazenly stealing copper from manholes in broad daylight.

The consequences ripple nationwide: disabled streetlights, disrupted 911 services, and repair costs ultimately passed to consumers through higher utility bills. A Los Angeles County detective working undercover attributes the surge to record copper prices.

JPMorgan data shows copper hit historic highs this year, with U.S. prices jumping over 30% due to booming demand from new data centers and speculation about potential Trump-era tariffs. Los Angeles has become a hotspot for such thefts, complicating recovery from devastating wildfires while preparing for major events like the 2028 Olympics. The city spends millions annually repairing stolen infrastructure.

According to NCTA, over 15,000 destructive attacks on U.S. communication networks occurred between June 2024-2025, primarily from copper theft, affecting 9.5 million users. California and Texas account for half these cases. "This isn't weekly or monthly—it's daily," the detective emphasized, noting that wildfire reconstruction sites have become prime targets.

Stolen bare copper wires are nearly untraceable. While some telecom companies color-code cables, municipal lines lack identifiers. Any anti-theft modifications would prove prohibitively expensive for cities. "It's practically lawless out there," the detective added.

The newly rebuilt Six Street Bridge—a 3,500-foot LED-lit landmark—now sits dark after thieves stole 38,000 feet (7 miles) of copper wiring, causing $2.5 million in damage. State Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez confirmed the staggering loss mirrors a citywide crisis: L.A. streetlight outages from theft/vandalism surged 10-fold from 2017-2022.

Mayor Karen Bass's office called copper theft "not just a nuisance but a direct public safety threat," pushing solar-powered alternatives that eliminate copper wiring. The detective noted thieves profit mere hundreds per theft while repairs cost thousands: "Given the scale, we'd call this domestic terrorism if not for the clear financial motive."

In October, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation toughening penalties and targeting scrap metal buyers, becoming the 13th state in 2025 to enact anti-copper-theft laws. Meanwhile, AT&T has spent millions combating thefts like one near Exposition Park—future Olympic venue—where thieves tunneled into facilities serving thousands, stealing hundreds of pounds of copper. Despite 2,000-pound steel plates, repeat breaches forced AT&T to concrete-seal the site.

The telecom giant is accelerating fiber-optic upgrades but remains vulnerable until customers transition. Each copper line represents a landline connection; until replaced, miles of exposed cabling remain at risk. "Thieves often can't distinguish copper from fiber, cutting everything," said AT&T VP Jeff Liang, worsening outages.

California thefts at AT&T skyrocketed from 71 cases in 2021 to 2,200 in 2024, prompting $20,000 rewards for tips. Construction Director Andrea Moore routinely tracks stolen copper to recyclers—some cooperative, others turning blind eyes to telltale discarded AT&T sheaths. New state laws aim to tighten recycler accountability.

Despite efforts, AT&T California President Susan Santana revealed $60 million in annual losses: "This isn't just about profits—it's about failed 911 calls and hospital equipment going offline."