LOS ANGELES (CNS) – The City Council Tuesday tentatively approved an ordinance that would create a Metal and Wire Theft Reward program, offering money in exchange for information leading to arrests and convictions of people who commit crimes affecting public infrastructure, such as copper wire theft.
In a 8-2 vote, the City Council advanced the proposed ordinance. The measure will require a second vote, scheduled for Oct. 21. It will then need approval by Mayor Karen Bass.
In January 2024, then-Councilman Kevin de Leon, alongside Councilwoman Traci Park and Councilman John Lee, introduced a motion seeking to create a tiered reward system program to solicit help from residents in addressing copper wire theft. Council members later approved the motion and instructed the city attorney to draft the ordinance for such a program.
Rewards would be offered for information involving theft of city plaques, tombstones, statues, light standards, and copper wire, and theft of metals linked to the Sixth Street Bridge.
The city would offer a $5,000 reward for felony grand theft, and $1,000 for misdemeanor theft.
“In response to this criminal activity, the Los Angeles Police Department deploys the Heavy Metal Task Force to areas affected by theft of copper wire. The HMTF has apprehended dozens of suspects and confiscated several firearms,” according to a report from the City Attorney’s Office. “LAPD believes that the adoption of this ordinance will assist in the identification, apprehension and conviction, or final adjudication, of persons who commit acts of metal and wire theft.”
Council members Hugo Soto-Martinez and Eunisses Hernandez were the lone “no” votes on Tuesday.
According to Soto-Martinez, when the Public Safety Committee discussed the issue last week it heard testimony from several private companies that deal with copper wire theft.
“One of the most enlightening things that I heard was that some of the private companies offer rewards of $25,000 for anyone who is caught and apprehended for wire theft,” Soto-Martinez said. “And the gentleman said that doesn’t work, and so here we are with $1,000 reward.”
He said officials of the Bureau of Street Lighting reported 60% of streetlight outages have nothing to do with copper wire theft.
“In fact, it’s just regular maintenance that the city has neglected to do over the years. This should come as no surprise because we haven’t assessed our street lighting funds since 1996. We’ve had to eliminate vacancies and so forth,” Soto-Martinez said.
The councilman urged his colleagues to fortify the city’s streetlights and provide the Bureau of Street Lighting with more resources, personnel and funding.
Meanwhile, the city and other municipalities across the region will have enhanced tools to crack down on metal theft thanks to new state legislation.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday he had signed AB 476, authored by Assemblyman Mark González, D-Los Angeles.
“Copper theft does not just cost money — it undermines neighborhood safety and public trust,” González said in a statement. “I want to thank Governor Newsom fro signing AB 476. This commonsense legislation that gives law enforcement and cities additional tools to track illegal transactions, stop thieves, and hold bad actors accountable. In California, we are turning the lights back on.”
State officials said the law will take affect Jan. 1, 2025.
A week ago, González led a news conference in downtown Los Angeles with L.A. County and city leaders to encourage Newsom to sign the bill, which they said will strengthen enforcement tools and help protect critical infrastructure from copper wire theft.
“Copper theft is not a victimless crime. It’s costing cities millions, endangering residents, and overwhelming local resources,” González said in a statement. “AB 476 gives law enforcement and cities additional tools to track illegal transactions, stop thieves and hold bad actors accountable.”
The bill will expand reporting requirements for junk dealers and recyclers, requiring them to collect detailed transaction records and verify the seller’s identity and lawful ownership of metals brought to their businesses.
It will also make it illegal for individuals to possess certain scrap metal — including parts from streetlights, traffic signals and plaques — without proper documentation. Penalties would be increased to reflect the high costs of damage and replacement.
County District Attorney Nathan Hochman and Sheriff Robert Luna joined González at the event, and described the bill as a “game changer” for public safety.
“This bill will finally give law enforcement the tools to shut down illegal scrap metal operations that fuel this kind of crime,” Hochman said in a previous statement. “Legitimate junk and recycling centers stand behind AB 476 because they’re tired being undercut by rouge operators who buy stolen metal with no questions asked.”
Luna said individuals who steal metal for profit endanger public safety and drive up costs for everyone.
“Assembly Bill 476 will be an important tool to help law enforcement increase accountability and protect our communities,” Luna said in a previous statement. “We’re asking residents to stay alert, report suspicious activity and stand with law enforcement in putting a stop to these thefts.”
Recent Comments