Since its opening in 2022, city officials say the 6th Street Bridge in Downtown Los Angeles has been stripped of almost seven miles of wiring from its electrical system.
As KNX News' Pete Demetriou reports, criminal scavengers trade the copper wire to recycling firms for its scrap value, and after two years of theft, the colored lights illuminating the structure have gone dark.
While the thieves likely got about $11,000 for the scrap copper, rewiring and repairing the system could cost the city millions of dollars.
A task force has been established to address the ongoing copper theft issue plaguing the city, but the local community is calling for more immediate and effective solutions. They propose installing vandal-proof access ports at the wire sites and additional surveillance cameras.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok