Thieves Reportedly Took Copper Wire From Streetlights, Leaving Whole Blocks Without Light

Copper Wire Theft Darkens Los Angeles’ Miracle Mile

On Monday, thieves reportedly stole copper wire from a streetlight in Los Angeles, causing entire blocks along the Miracle Mile to lose power.

According to CBS News, the suspects pulled wires from a utility box, leading to a blackout that affected at least two blocks. Local resident Jay mentioned that he had been alerting city officials about this issue since last spring.

“The whole block isn’t even lit, and there doesn’t seem to be any prospect of rewiring it in the near future,” he noted, expressing frustration over the situation.

“How can we host the Olympics when we can’t even turn on the lights?” Jay added. He’s looking forward to the Olympics, but he evidently values streetlights even more.

Dr. Sindale Seal, who happened to be driving in the area, also shared concerns about the darkness. “As time goes on and it gets darker, you start to worry about driving here,” he commented.

The theft of copper wire has been increasing in Los Angeles. A California study indicated that over 37,000 repair requests for streetlights had been logged by September 2025, with many residents still waiting for service. The street lighting department stated that about 15 percent of the system was impacted, and nearly half of the service requests were linked to wire theft. The value of the stolen copper was estimated at $11,000, while the cost to rewire has been projected to exceed $2.5 million.

In response, Mark Gonzalez, a recently sworn-in Democratic California State Assembly Majority Member, introduced Assembly Bill 476, which targets metal theft. This bill was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 13, 2025.

“Every stolen wire is not just metal taken from the ground; it’s light taken from our communities,” Gonzalez remarked about the importance of the legislation.

Jay expressed disappointment that the city hasn’t prioritized this issue. “This needs to be a priority, and it’s upsetting that it hasn’t been treated as such,” he conveyed to CBS News.