Wednesday, March 18, 2026

90-Day Effort to Develop Anti-Copper Theft Strategy Underway for Pasadena, Altadena

The countywide effort formalizes coordination among law enforcement, utilities, and local jurisdictions after thieves stole 6½ miles of wire from Pasadena streetlights

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Monday unanimously approved a motion directing county departments to develop a coordinated strategy against copper wire, catalytic converter, and non-ferrous metal theft across the region.

The motion, authored by Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Janice Hahn, calls for a report within 90 days outlining prevention strategies, enforcement improvements, and the projected impact of metal theft on upcoming international events, according to a press release from the supervisors’ offices. The directive aims to consolidate previously fragmented efforts into a unified framework aligned with AB 476, the state law that took effect January 1, 2026, strengthening penalties for metal theft and regulation of scrap metal recyclers.

The action carries particular weight for Pasadena and Altadena, both in Barger’s 5th Supervisorial District. Thieves have stolen 6½ miles of copper from Pasadena’s streetlight system since January 2023, according to CBS Los Angeles. As recently as May 10, 2025, approximately 576 feet of copper wire was taken from three streetlight pull boxes near Colorado Boulevard and San Rafael Avenue, according to Pasadena Now.

In fire-impacted Altadena, copper theft from damaged properties has contributed to a 400% increase in burglary rates, according to the LA County Sheriff’s Department. The community now averages more than 40 home burglaries monthly, compared to six before the Eaton Fire, according to LASD data.

“Los Angeles County is preparing to welcome the world and we must ensure our infrastructure is safe, reliable, and resilient,” Barger said in the press release. “Copper theft is not a low-level crime. It jeopardizes public safety, disrupts essential services, and drains taxpayer resources.”

The motion directs the Sheriff’s Department, District Attorney, Public Works, utility providers, telecommunications companies, and local jurisdictions to collaborate on the strategy, according to Random Lengths News. Proposed elements include infrastructure hardening, enhanced data-sharing, and stronger enforcement aligned with new state laws, the outlet reported.

“Too many of our neighborhoods and roads have been left in the dark because of copper theft and our residents and taxpayers are the ones paying the price,” Hahn said in the press release. “This is a widespread problem that has been difficult for local governments and agencies to solve on their own.”

In the city of Los Angeles alone, repair costs tied to copper and metal theft have exceeded $100 million since 2020, according to Random Lengths News. Los Angeles is one of 88 cities within the county, according to the press release.

The Board’s action follows prior steps including a $20,000 reward authorized with Pasadena in January 2024 after copper theft disabled 280 city lights, according to an LA County motion document. In May 2025, the Board unanimously supported AB 476, authored by Assemblymember Mark González, which Governor Gavin Newsom signed in October 2025.

The 90-day report deadline falls around June 15 — after the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins June 11 but ahead of the 2027 Super Bowl and 2028 Olympics, events the motion cites as reasons for urgency. The strategy will outline enforcement mechanisms and projected impacts, but operational changes would follow the report’s completion, not the Board vote itself.