HAYWARD, CALIFORNIA — Copper wire theft has surged across California, with AT&T reporting approximately 7,000 incidents in the state over the past year as part of more than 10,400 nationwide. Thieves have targeted infrastructure including telephone poles, streetlights, and electric vehicle charging stations, often cutting copper cables that deliver essential phone and internet services.

"Sitting here [is] a truck full of what is stolen copper cable," said Todd Swensen of AT&T's construction and engineering division. The thefts correlate with rising copper prices, which have nearly doubled in the past year due to increased market demand. "The higher the price of copper is at a recycler and on the market, our theft goes up. Direct correlation there," Swensen said. A single stolen copper cable bundle may yield only a few hundred dollars at a recycler but can cost tens of thousands to repair.

In response, AT&T has implemented new security measures, including locked manhole lids, line sensors, and private security guards. "We have locked down manhole lids with extra bolts. We've put sensors across our lines. In some instances we've had to hire private security guards," said Susan Santana, president of AT&T West. The company is also offering a $20,000 bounty for information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals involved in copper cable thefts.

California officials are coordinating a statewide enforcement strategy to combat the crimes. Attorney General Rob Bonta said authorities are using cross-jurisdictional collaboration, intelligence sharing, and surveillance tactics previously deployed against catalytic converter theft and retail smash-and-grab operations. "We started teaming up and engaging [in] investigations, sharing intel, engaging in surveillance. A lot of what worked there is working here," Bonta said. He added that deterrence depends on perceived risk of capture: "The science shows that if people think they will be caught for committing a crime, then that deters them from committing a crime. Even if the punishment is high, but they don't think they're going to get caught, they'll still commit the crime."

California law punishes copper theft with up to three years in prison and fines, and the state has recently tightened regulations on scrap metal dealers. New legislation under consideration would increase penalties for organized copper theft and for possessing wire without proof of ownership. Stolen copper recovered from recyclers has been traced back to AT&T infrastructure, and thieves often damage fiber optic lines while targeting copper due to their similar appearance.