Los Angeles City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez joined officers at the Mission Community Police Station on Oct. 24 to announce the apprehension of two suspects with approximately $50,000 worth of stolen copper wire in their possession.
The arrests were made in the early morning of Oct. 21 on the 15000 block of Germain Street in Mission Hills. A resident called 9-1-1, reporting they saw multiple individuals cutting copper wire from an electrical pole. When LA Police Department (LAPD) officers arrived at the scene, they encountered four suspects with long pieces of copper wire and metal cutting tools on the ground.
Three of the suspects fled on foot, but one was later found and arrested. The two suspects in custody – Concepcion Vasquez, 53, and Jose Garcia Avila, 51 – have been charged with grand theft.
The two other suspects are still at large.
“This is now the second location in my district where individuals were successfully apprehended in the act of copper wire theft – the previous location being in Shadow Hills,” Rodriguez said. “This is an opportunity to remind the public how important it is for them to remain engaged and aware of what is happening in their neighborhood, and if you see something that just looks out of sorts, please contact LAPD.”
She added that numerous service providers – including Verizon, Spectrum and AT&T – have been impacted by copper wire thefts, and such crimes can leave customers without service.
In January, an AT&T vault in South LA packed with miles of underground copper cable was targeted by thieves. Thirty-two cables were cut, which knocked out phone, internet and emergency service connections for thousands of residents.
According to the telecommunication company, there have been more than 1,500 reported copper thefts in LA between January and June, far outpacing St. Louis, Missouri, which ranks second with 483 thefts.
The large number of copper thefts in the city coincides with the increasing price of the metal. In the past five years, the cost has jumped by 58%. In LA, bare copper wire can be sold between $3.80 to $4.20 per pound at recycling centers.
Copper thefts can leave whole neighborhoods in the dark when the perpetrators remove the wiring from streetlights and traffic signals. Not only could this create a hazardous situation for drivers and pedestrians traveling through the area at night, but it can also be costly to repair the damage.
To reduce the number of thefts, pilot programs throughout LA are being implemented to replace existing street lighting systems with battery-enabled, solar-powered lights. Rodriguez said her district has the most solar installations in the city, and she is continuing to work with the Bureau of Street Lighting to increase the number of solar lights.
Station Cpt. Garrett Payton echoed the importance of community vigilance, saying, “This is a perfect example of ‘See Something, Say Something.’ We need that partnership. It’s a very important piece of how we do our job. We wouldn’t be able to do our job without each of you out there.”
Daniel Aeschleman, safety officer for the LA Department of Water and Power (LADWP), said there is a lot of copper infrastructure around the city, which is often the target of theft. He encouraged residents to not only report suspicious behavior, but also to be cautious around damaged infrastructure, especially if it’s high voltage.
“It can be hazardous, create serious injury and can even potentially result in a fatality,” Aeschleman said. “So please don’t tamper with something if it looks like it has been disturbed, destroyed or broken open.”
Anyone with information related to this investigation is urged to contact the LAPD Mission Area Detectives at 818-838-9810. During nonbusiness hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to (877) LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.