For years, copper theft was treated as a minor property crime. The kind of thing that showed up in a police blotter and got forgotten by the next news cycle. That’s no longer true in Los Angeles. Copper wire theft in particular is increasingly landing on the doorstep of local businesses in Southern California.
Former LAPD Lt. Andrew Mathes, who led the department’s Heavy Metal Task Force, described the situation plainly: “LA is the copper theft capital. It’s the worst of the worst here.”
For business owners and commercial property managers, this is not simply another crime story. It’s a security planning issue.
Key Takeaways
- Rising copper prices have increased the financial incentive for thieves to target exposed wiring and equipment.
- The cost of repairing damaged systems can be much higher than the value of the stolen metal.
- Commercial HVAC systems, electrical panels, utility rooms, rooftop equipment, lighting, and communications infrastructure may all be vulnerable.
- Public enforcement and infrastructure changes are developing, but businesses still need to reduce opportunities for theft at their own properties.
The Scale of the Problem
The numbers make the escalation difficult to ignore.
- Copper and metal theft repairs in Los Angeles have produced cumulative costs exceeding $100 million since 2020, according to a March 2026 motion before the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
- AT&T reported more than 4,300 copper-theft incidents in California in 2025, nearly double the 2,200 incidents it recorded in 2024.
- Thieves stripped approximately seven miles of copper wiring from the Sixth Street Bridge over several years, leaving an estimated $2.5 million repair bill.
- More than 15,540 incidents of theft and vandalism affected US communications networks between June 2024 and June 2025, disrupting service for over 9.5 million customers. Copper theft was one part of that broader infrastructure threat.
- Los Angeles officials have said copper and power theft are responsible for approximately 40% of the city’s reported streetlight outages.
Together, these figures show that infrastructure theft is no longer a collection of isolated incidents. It has become a recurring local and national problem with substantial financial, operational, and public-safety consequences.
Why Is Copper a Common Target for Theft?
The driver is simple economics.
Copper is used extensively in electrical wiring, construction, transportation, power systems, electric vehicles, renewable-energy equipment, data centers, and the infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence.
In January 2026, copper prices rose above $13,000 per metric tonne and reached record highs amid growing demand and concerns about supply disruption. Prices naturally fluctuate, but the broader value of the metal gives thieves a clear incentive to seek out accessible wiring and equipment.
It’s this gap between a thief’s payout and a property owner’s replacement cost that explains why copper wire theft has become so attractive relative to other forms of property crime.
Copper is also widely available.
It can be found in:
- HVAC systems
- Electrical panels
- Exterior lighting
- Utility boxes
- Rooftop equipment
- Generators
- Telecommunications lines
- Charging equipment
- Streetlights
- Transit infrastructure
In many cases, these assets are located outdoors, on rooftops, in service alleys, or inside utility areas that receive little attention after business hours.
A thief may receive only a fraction of the copper’s market value. The property owner, however, may have to replace wiring, conduits, panels, HVAC components, roofing, walls, security systems, or utility connections damaged during the removal.
As a result of the theft, the business may suffer power loss, lighting and internet service issues, telephone access failure, and more.
In other words, a relatively small payout for the thief can create a very large bill for the victim.
The Growing Risk to Commercial Properties
This is playing out on commercial streets, not just city property.
Copper thieves are increasingly targeting warehouses, industrial facilities, telecommunications sites, and EV charging stations across Los Angeles.
In Gardena, thieves ransacked a warehouse, cut electrical wiring and copper pipes, and caused more than $500,000 in damage. Other businesses in Gardena and West Rancho Dominguez have lost power for days or faced repair bills ranging from $20,000 to $250,000 after copper was removed from electrical boxes and transformers.
An ink-manufacturing business in West Rancho Dominguez reported approximately $100,000 in stolen copper piping and electrical materials. The damage left the facility without water or electricity and contributed to the owner’s decision to relocate.
EV charging stations and telecommunications facilities have also been targeted, resulting in damaged equipment, service interruptions, and costly replacements.
For businesses, the stolen copper is often only a small part of the total loss. Electrical damage, emergency repairs, downtime, and interrupted operations can turn one theft into a six-figure incident.
The City’s Response
LAPD once ran a specialized Heavy Metal Task Force dedicated to copper wire theft. It was launched in early 2024 and credited with more than 300 arrests and a 70% drop in thefts (Newton Division) in the areas it targeted most heavily. The unit was disbanded in July 2025 amid citywide budget cuts and staffing shortages.
Its former commander later noted that thefts appeared to shift to other parts of the city once the dedicated unit was gone. The thieves, in his words, simply “had to find new places to target.”
Officials have started treating this as more than a nuisance.
- LA County’s Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion to develop a coordinated countywide crackdown on copper and metal theft, directing the Sheriff’s Department, District Attorney, Public Works, and other stakeholders to report back within 90 days with prevention and enforcement strategies.
- State legislators introduced AB 1941, targeting copper thieves and metal theft rings with a proposed statewide data-sharing system linking law enforcement, utilities, and recycling centers.
- The city is shifting infrastructure strategy – moving toward solar-powered streetlights that don’t rely on copper.
As reasonable a response as this may be, it takes time for it to make a difference. Los Angeles hosted matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup and is preparing for Super Bowl LXI in 2027 and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. County officials have explicitly flagged copper wire theft as a risk to infrastructure reliability heading into those events.
As policy is slowly catching up, prevention sits mostly with property and business owners.
How Your Business Could Prevent Copper Theft
Businesses are not powerless against copper theft. A few targeted measures can make valuable equipment harder to access, easier to monitor, and less attractive to thieves.
Harden Access Points
Secure HVAC units, electrical panels, utility boxes, rooftop equipment, and service areas with locked cages, reinforced enclosures, tamper-resistant fasteners, or physical barriers. AT&T has taken a similar approach by reinforcing access points, securing manholes, adding protective casings around vulnerable wiring, and marking its copper with traceable identifiers.
Improve Lighting and Surveillance
Use motion-activated lighting and position visible cameras around loading areas, alleys, rooftops, utility rooms, and exterior equipment. Surveillance is most effective when alerts are actively monitored so suspicious activity can be assessed and reported in real time.
Protect Exposed Wiring
Move exposed wiring underground where possible or place it inside durable conduit. Businesses should also consider cut-resistant materials and tamper detection for particularly vulnerable equipment. ChargePoint, for example, has introduced cut-resistant EV-charging cables and real-time alarms designed to detect attempted cable theft.
Mark and Document Equipment
Use engraved identification numbers, UV markings, traceable paint, or other forensic marking methods. Keep current photographs, serial numbers, and equipment records to help identify recovered materials and support insurance claims.
Monitor Utility and Mechanical Areas
HVAC rooms, electrical rooms, rooftops, and service yards are common blind spots. Include these areas in routine inspections, limit access to authorized personnel, and consider active video monitoring for properties that are vacant or repeatedly targeted.
Coordinate With Nearby Businesses
Copper thieves may target several properties in the same commercial area. Share information about suspicious vehicles, attempted break-ins, outages, and recent thefts with neighboring businesses and property managers.
Report Incidents and Consider Rewards
Report thefts, attempted thefts, and suspicious activity, even when the immediate loss appears minor. Multiple reports can help law enforcement identify patterns, repeat offenders, and locations that may require additional attention. You may also consider offering a reward for useful information through a clearly managed reporting process. In the past, AT&T offered rewards of up to $20,000 for tips leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals involved in copper cable theft or the attempted sale of stolen material.
How ASF Can Help Stop Copper Wire Theft
Copper theft isn’t happening in isolation. Along with warehouse fires, it’s become one of the most pressing physical security issues facing businesses in the region. The current policy response, while a step in the right direction, hasn’t kept pace with the problem.
For business owners, the strongest protection available today is a security plan built around this specific risk. That may include stronger access control, surveillance, active monitoring, patrols, and physical protection for vulnerable equipment and wiring.
If you need help assessing your property’s exposure, contact ASF. We’re here to recommend a security strategy designed to reduce opportunities for copper theft before it happens.
