The city of North Las Vegas has seen an increase in the number of copper wire thefts since the year began.
There have been 12 reports of copper wire theft from city light poles for more than $225,000 in damage.
The wire that is stolen has no distinct, unique identifiers, and many times the plastic is stripped so the recycling companies that buy the wire have no way to know if the wire is city property. Most thefts occurred during nighttime hours on streets with little to no traffic.
The North Las Vegas Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in apprehending the person or persons responsible. Here are a few things to look for:
- Suspicious persons near or around light poles.
- Several light poles not working on the same street.
- City workers will have a vehicle with city decals visible.
- Remember, if it doesn’t look right, it probably isn’t.
Recently one arrest was made but copper wire theft has not slowed down. The arrest was made possible due to a concerned citizen who called the police after seeing someone near a light pole with no city decals on the vehicle.
Anyone with information into this crime trend is urged to call the North Las Vegas Police Department at 702-633-9111 or, to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555.
