Copper thefts plunge Perth roads into darkness, costing taxpayers millions
Copper thefts have left over 100km of Perth roads in darkness, with police charging three people with stealing copper wire. The issue has cost taxpayers millions and is expected to take several years to rectify.
More than 100 kilometres of major roads and paths across Perth remain unlit, some for years, due to widespread copper theft. The issue has left roads in darkness and cost taxpayers millions of dollars.
This week, police charged three people with stealing copper wire, which is lucrative on the black market. A 31-year-old man was arrested and charged with allegedly stealing more than 190 metres of telecommunication cable from Gidgegannup, before selling the recovered copper to a scrap metal recycler. The theft allegedly occurred over the King's Birthday long weekend in September from a Telstra site, where about 500 kilograms of copper was pulled out of the ground.
Mundaring sergeant Tony Signal said the theft had a significant impact on the Gidgegannup and surrounding areas.