Thieves targeted an iconic section of Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile area, a vibrant district in downtown Los Angeles, by cutting off the streetlights, according to local reports.
Residents reported that robbers stripped electrical wires from the streetlight poles, leaving part of the block completely dark on Monday night.
Several streetlights were out along Wilshire Boulevard between Highland Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard, with utility boxes showing signs of tampering. Another area, between Cloverdale Avenue and Detroit Street, was also reported to be entirely without lights, as neighbors informed CBS.
One resident, Jay, expressed frustration, stating, “The whole block is out of lights and there doesn’t seem to be any hope of rewiring it in the near future.” He mentioned he had been reporting power outages in Miracle Mile for the past nine months, but the lights still hadn’t been restored.
With the 2028 Olympics on the horizon, Jay reflected on the situation: “How can we hold the Olympics when we can’t even turn on the lights? This is insane. I’m looking forward to the Olympics, but I also want streetlights.”
Requests for street light repairs have surged throughout Los Angeles, mainly due to the ongoing issue of copper theft. The city has reportedly spent around $2.5 million fixing stolen wiring, including repairs on the Sixth Street Bridge.
