The city of Pasadena is trying to crack down on copper thieves who have reportedly stolen miles worth of wiring from the city's street light system over the last year.
KNX News' Emily Valdez spoke to Tony Olmos with Pasadena Public Works, who said, "In the last year, we've actually had to repair about 360 lights."
But Olmos said the problem is more than just repairing the street lights.
"The risk that they're putting onto the residents by doing this is so much greater because besides the lights being down, people can trip on these open boxes," he said, adding that the thieves will often leave active wires exposed, putting the community, especially children, at risk of electrocution.
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On top of safety concerns, the repairs are costing the city and taxpayers a considerable amount of money. So the city, along with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, announced on Wednesday a $20,000 reward ($10,000 coming from each) for tips that lead to the capture and conviction of a copper crook.
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