Wire theft continues to darken walkways in City parks, paths

A rash of wire thefts along Eugene's bike paths is destructive, disruptive and costly to taxpayers.

Copper-seeking thieves are breaking into electric junction boxes and stealing wire that provides power to pole-mounted lights. The lights improve safety for people who use the paths at night, but the thefts have eliminated lighting along different sections, City officials say.

Presently, segments of the Fern Ridge, Interstate 5 and Ruth Bascom bike paths and other areas are unlit after dark.

"We are working on a solution to remedy that," said Public Works Traffic Engineer Chris Henry. "In the meantime, the community should be aware that sections of path lighting are not working."

Wire theft from junction boxes and other equipment has been a longtime problem. The City has taken steps to deter the crimes, such as putting concrete barrier segments-weighing 900 pounds each-on top of the wiring access points. However, thieves in some cases are able to overcome the measures. The number of wire theft incidents appears to have increased compared to previous years, City officials say.

Eugene's Public Works Department provides maintenance for bike paths inside and outside of parks, which includes lighting.

Public Works uses revenue from state and local gas taxes to maintain paths along street rights of way. However, to repair theft damage outside the right of way, including those sections of paths that have been affected by wire thefts, Public Works must request an allocation from the City's property tax-supported general fund.

And this is no small figure; already the cost is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. It's difficult to find general fund dollars to replace stolen wire with so many other priorities vying for financing, said Henry.

City staff may explore alternatives to replace wire-connected lighting, perhaps by using pole-mounted solar lights, Henry said. However, they are more expensive to purchase and their batteries must be replaced.

Other cities facing frequent wire theft have switched to aluminum wiring or have established laws for scrap yards that limit their sourcing. But many thieves skirt those laws by selling stolen wire to an intermediary at a discount, who then takes the copper to a scrap yard.

Responding to repeated vandalism and thefts is frustrating for Public Works staff who take pride in being good stewards of City property and taxpayer money, Henry said.

"We have repaired sections, and the thieves have come back and stolen again," he said. "It's getting more difficult to maintain what we have."

Besides affecting City infrastructure and operations, the thefts are plaguing businesses and utilities in the Eugene area.

In March, for example, a telecommunications provider with utilities in the street right of way reported the theft of more than 5,000 feet of copper-filled cable from overhead lines along Highway 99 in northwest Eugene.

The theft affected Eugene Airport operations, public safety and health services, as well as the ability of customers to access 911 and other emergency services.

Authorities believe the thieves may have used a bucket truck or lift to reach the cable. The cost to repair the damage and replace the wire was estimated at $125,000.

The Eugene Police Department has dedicated a detective to investigating wire thefts within the City and has made at least one arrest.

In July, the Lane County Sheriff's Office arrested two men west of Veneta after they cut down two power poles to steal wire. Damage from the attempted theft totaled $31,500.

In the meantime, community members are encouraged to wear headlamps or bring flashlights if they intend to walk on paths during dark hours. Bicyclists must have lights on the front of their bikes.

If you see activity in progress that seems like vandalism related to wire theft, please call 911. If vandalism has already occurred or you have information about a theft, please call the non-emergency line at 541-682-5111.

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