2 Men Allegedly Caught Stealing Copper Wire From Bay Bridge Bike Path
OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- The California Highway Patrol arrested two people Wednesday who were allegedly caught in the act of stealing copper wire from along the Bay Bridge bike path.
The arrest occurred around noon Wednesday when two bicycle officers on the pedestrian and bicycle path near where eastbound Interstate Highway 80 intersects with Interstate Highway 580 spotted two people acting suspiciously, according to CHP Officer Sean Wilkenfeld.
After finding a hole in the fence, the officers contacted the two subjects, both of them Oakland residents, and determined that they were in the process of stealing copper electrical wire from the bridge structure, Wilkenfeld said.
The CHP is waiting for the California Department of Transportation to determine how much wire was taken, which will in turn determine whether misdemeanor or felony charges are filed against the suspects.
Wilkenfeld said copper wire theft is an ongoing problem for bridges and freeways.
"Unfortunately it happens a lot around here," Wilkenfeld said. "You'll see a section of freeway that's dark, and that's where copper wire thieves have been."
Bob Haus, a spokesman for Caltrans, said the department has allocated around $50 million to pay for repairs due to the growing problem with copper wire theft. The thefts can affect basic safety systems on the roadway including lighting, traffic meters and roadway message signs.
Haus said the problem is driven by copper prices, which have risen 350 percent over the past five years. He said the department is looking at switching to aluminum wire in some areas and making it harder for thieves to access the wires, but the theft is organized and widespread.
"We're putting in a lot more deterrent measures now, but the thieves are just doing whatever they can to keep up with demand," he said.
Wilkenfeld said anyone who sees a truck or people that appear to be working on a freeway or bridge without the proper Caltrans decals should call the CHP to report the suspicious activity.
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