INDOT, ISP Working to Stop Copper Wire Theft

 
 

INDOT says copper wire thieves are ripping-off taxpayers and compromising public safety.

In the past two months, INDOT says copper wire stolen from lights on roadways in the Northwest District has cost about $100-thousand in repair and replacement costs. Nearly 100 lighting poles have been targeted in the thefts.

Copper wire is often stolen and then sold to scrap yards for cash. INDOT and the Indiana State Police have announced they are working together to catch those responsible for the theft.

This isn’t the first time this has happened on Indiana roadways. In 2013, metal wire thieves used similar tactics which resulted in darkened highways and hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars lost.

Due to the Northwest district’s more than 4,000 highway lighting poles, INDOT is also asking for the public’s help identifying the perpetrators. Anyone allegedly seeing copper wire theft is being asked to contact police. They say they will follow-up with an investigation. ISP says once they are on scene, they will investigate anyone working on or around highway lighting.

Additional patrols are also being utilized to deter copper wire thieves from continuing their efforts.

Data and analytic models are also being used to predict where the thieves may strike next.