Local leaders urge action on organized metal theft

By Brian Hendershot, Cal Cities Advocate managing editor

Asm. Mark González, local officials, and business leaders on Monday urged Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign AB 1941. Co-sponsored by Cal Cities, the bill increases penalties for organized metal theft.

Last year, the state reported an increase in copper wire theft, mirroring national trends. According to NPR, telecommunications giant AT&T recorded over 10,400 incidents of copper wire theft nationwide; a little under half were in California.

Standing under the Sixth Street Bridge in Los Angeles, speakers shared how repeat metal theft has impacted their communities. Business leaders noted that it contributes to both a decrease in businesses and increased costs. For residents, copper wire theft can impact their commutes, safety, and emergency response times.

"The stolen equipment may be small, but the effects are huge," said Carolyn Coleman, Cal Cities CEO and executive director, after the press conference. "AB 1941 could significantly deter these organized thefts."

Often, cities must absorb the financial costs and public safety consequences of copper theft that targets telecommunications lines, electrical utility equipment, water systems, streetlights, and traffic signals. Copper wire theft increased so much in San José that city officials created a public map that tracks stolen wire and vandalism incidents.

"Cities can repair streetlights. We can run local sting operations and try to go after people in our community buying stolen metal," said San José Mayor Matt Mahan on Monday. "But what we can't do on our own is dismantle organized theft operations that cross city and county lines. ... We need the state to lean in and help us solve it."

Since opening in 2022, thieves have removed seven miles of copper wire from the Sixth Street bridge in Los Angeles, often leaving it in near-darkness. According to González, taxpayers have spent $11 million replacing the stolen cables.

"California's infrastructure is not yours to steal," he said at the conference. "We have an opportunity to give prosecutors a stronger tool to hold organized metal thieves accountable and protect the systems that keep our communities safe and connected."

The Governor has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto the measure.