Clark County works to fight copper wire theft, keep streetlights on

Heather Mills
·2 min read
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LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Clark County is trying a new approach to halt copper wire theft and keep the streetlights on. Clark County Public Works Crews were out Monday morning installing new wiring at a problem area near Lamb and Charleston.

Crews repairing streetlights has become a familiar sight in the valley.

“We finished the work on a Thursday and the following Monday we had a call that the wire was gone,” Jimmy Benoit with Clark County Public Works said.

Copper wire theft is an expensive and pervasive issue.

“We’ve tried many different things,” Benoit explained. “We’ve tried locking covers. We’ve tried gluing pole box lids shut and they just defeated all of that.”

Benoit said they are now trying aluminum wires up high and hopefully out of reach.

“They have a special bracket that they attach to the top of the pole,” he explained. “It’s very labor intensive.”

The area along Charleston and Lamb has been hit over and over again, Benoit explained.

“Every scrap of wire is gone in this section of road.”

Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom said it’s not only a safety issue but a costly one.

“The reality is, this is a problem we can solve,” Segerblom said. “We’re working the scrap metal collectors, making sure they don’t take this metal. We’re working with the police to try and stop it from happening.”

Clark County said thieves often impersonate work crews by donning a yellow vest to steal the wiring incognito.

“It’s crazy that we’ve come to the point in society where people would steal $100 worth of wire and it costs us $5,000 to replace it,” Segerblom said.

By law, scrap yards have to collect information on sellers, including fingerprints. If the theft causes a disruption in service or costs more than $500, it’s a felony. However, that is not stopping thieves.

“The phones are ringing off the hook,” Benoit explained.

On Monday, they fixed eight light poles, amounting to a full day of work.

“We’re experimenting to see what’s the best way to go,” Segerblom said.

Clark County Public Works said the wiring provides 28 feet of clearance from the ground, so it is not a solution for all areas, but it is a start.

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