Las Vegas, NV (KXNT) - In an effort to combat the widespread problem of copper wire theft in the Las Vegas Valley, the Clark County Commission adopted an ordinance today to curb the sale of stolen copper wire at recycling plants and scrap yards.
The ordinance, proposed by Commissioner Michael Naft, prohibits the purchase of seven-strand copper wire commonly used in municipal or utility operations unless sellers provide documentation that verifies the wire was lawfully acquired.
It also makes it illegal for businesses to purchase scrap metal from walk-up sellers and prohibits cash payments for copper wire. The ordinance aligns county code with existing state law and ordinances adopted by neighboring jurisdictions to discourage wire theft.
Clark County’s Public Works Department estimates that nearly 1 million feet of streetlight wiring has been stolen since 2022, with more than $1.5 million replaced during that time.
Clark County’s efforts to combat wire theft have included welding shut access covers, installing lock covers, installing wiring overhead instead of underground to make access more difficult, and installing aluminum wiring instead of copper because it has less value and may be less of a target for theft. The Public Works Department also initiated a pilot program to test the viability of installing solar streetlights in some areas of the Las Vegas Valley.