Copper Theft: What We’re Missing

In conversations with colleagues across the industry, I often hear a similar theory about why copper-based infrastructure is failing: the networks are old (true), and maintenance hasn’t kept up (not true). However, what I see every day in Southern California is that organized copper theft is happening more frequently and on a much larger scale. If this were only about aging copper facilities, it would be a challenging but manageable infrastructure problem. Utilities and telecommunications providers have always addressed aging systems through planned upgrades, maintenance cycles, and capital investment. In fact, AT&T has committed billions of dollars over the next five years to build the nation’s best and largest network, designed with the capacity and resilience needed for the next era of innovation and economic growth. In many major metropolitan areas and small towns, copper theft has escalated to levels that can only be described as systemic. Anything that uses copper is a target, including:

• Railroads and transit systems
• Power utilities
• HVAC contractors
• Transportation and roadway infrastructure
• City lighting systems
• Construction projects

Copper is found inside critical systems that support modern life, and those stealing it know exactly where to find it.