Thieves continue to steal copper wire from the old-style street lights throughout Tacoma despite a series of arrests and efforts to retrofit electrical vault covers.
Since April, police have received more than 250 reports of wire theft from city street lights. More than $300,000 has been spent to replace the stolen wire and repair the lights.
“We are asking for the public’s help to remain vigilant and please report any suspicious activity by calling 911,” police Lt. Jerry Lerum said.
The thieves have been targeting street lights in the Hilltop, Old Town and Stadium neighborhoods.
They break into ground access vaults that supply electricity to the street lamps, which are topped with globes. The vaults, which resemble those used for water meters, are in parking strips near the 14-foot light poles.
When the wire is yanked from the vaults, a string of street lights go dark.
Most of the thefts happen at night but, through their investigation of the incidents, detectives have learned the thieves start their scouting work during the day.
They ride around on bicycles, looking for in-ground vaults. When they find one, they lay the bike across the vault and pretend they are working on the bike, Lerum said.
Instead, they break into the vault and cut several wires. Then they replace the vault cover and leave.
“Since it is daylight, no one is aware the wires have been cut,” Lerum said.
The thieves return after nightfall and then rip out the wire, which is placed in a backpack or tucked under a jacket. They cut the wire into small pieces and sell them to recyclers, police said.
Stacey Mulick: 253-597-8268
stacey.mulick@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/crime
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