Guarding Our Networks: Battling the Rise in Copper Theft and Vandalism

America's communications networks form the backbone of daily life, supporting everything from public safety to healthcare and economic activity. Yet, a wave of vandalism and theft, fueled largely by rising copper prices, threatens this vital infrastructure-and with it, the essential services and safety that Americans depend on every day.

Why it matters: Communications networks are the backbone of public safety and national security, enabling emergency response systems, law enforcement coordination, and critical government operations. When vandals target these networks for copper, they not only disrupt key sectors like healthcare, transportation, and finance but also jeopardize public safety while imposing millions of dollars in costs on providers, consumers, and the economy.

A growing threat

Nearly 4,000 incidents of theft and vandalism targeted communications infrastructure during just one three-month period in 2024, affecting more than 325,000 customers and costing communications providers millions of dollars in repair costs. The incidents led to service disruptions that impacted everything from emergency response systems to daily business operations.

• These attacks aren't limited to copper cables; even fiber-optic lines, which contain no copper, are being damaged by criminals seeking valuable materials.
• The impact extends across rural and urban communities alike, compromising the public's access to critical services and safety resources.

These are just a few recent examples:

• Bremerton, Washington: A copper line cut caused an airport shutdown and disrupted services at the nearby Mission Creek Correctional facility, leading to a major security concern.
• Garland, Texas: Thieves blocked rush-hour traffic to steal copper wiring, causing public safety risks and prompting a police chase. The value of copper stolen in this single incident exceeded $10,000.
• Sacramento, California: An intentional fiber cut at the Sacramento International Airport in April 2024 disrupted internet services, delaying flights and affecting airport operations.

A coordinated response

Addressing this urgent issue requires collaboration across sectors. Local and state governments, law enforcement, the communications industry, and the scrap metal industry each have a role in combatting this rising threat. Some proactive measures and responses include:

• State and local initiatives: Various states have adopted stricter laws and enforcement measures. However, many states lack specific laws addressing damage to critical or communications infrastructure.
  • Los Angeles established a Copper Wire Task Force in 2024, resulting in 82 arrests and the recovery of 2,000 pounds of stolen material.
• Communications providers' security efforts: Companies are investing in surveillance systems, tracking devices, security personnel, and more to protect their infrastructure.
• Scrap metal industry standards: A comprehensive solution must address not only infrastructure protection but also the demand for stolen copper. Enforcing ethical practices among scrap metal dealers is essential, as failure to do so enables theft and complicates recovery efforts.
  • In Idaho, some cities have required sellers to present IDs to recyclers to combat the laundering of stolen metals.
• Partnerships with law enforcement: Law enforcement plays a critical role in securing communications networks by investigating, tracking, and prosecuting infrastructure thefts. Increased resources, focused patrols, and assertive prosecution can help protect essential services and consumers from the severe impacts of outages.
  • In Denver, Colorado, a cooperative effort between a wireless carrier and the local police led to the arrest of a copper theft ring leader, dramatically reducing theft incidents.

The path forward

To effectively combat the growing threat of infrastructure vandalism, states must strengthen and modernize their laws to address the unique challenges facing communications networks. By enacting stricter penalties and comprehensive legislation, states can create stronger deterrents and ensure the vital networks Americans rely on daily remain secure, resilient, and protected.