Copper Wire Thieves Strike Mar Vista, Leaving Neighborhood Streets in Darkness

Mar Vista, Los Angeles - Homeless addicts targeted streetlight poles in the Mar Vista neighborhood overnight, stripping copper wiring and plunging multiple blocks into darkness, according to local reports and on-scene footage captured early Tuesday, January 13, 2026.

The incident affected areas along Purdue Avenue, Stanwood Drive, and Corinth Avenue, where dozens of streetlights were vandalized. Residents reported entire blocks left unlit, raising immediate concerns about pedestrian and driver safety in the residential Westside community.

FOX 11 Los Angeles reporter Matthew Seedorff documented the scene, showing darkened streets and frustrated neighbors awaiting repairs. Councilwoman Traci Park, who represents City Council District 11 (including Mar Vista, Venice, and Westchester), confirmed that the city continues to receive regular reports of such thefts, with new incidents occurring at least weekly."Copper wire theft is not just a nuisance but a serious public safety threat," a statement from Mayor Karen Bass' office emphasized. The crime leaves neighborhoods vulnerable while costing taxpayers millions annually in repairs and response efforts.

This latest case is part of a persistent citywide problem driven by high scrap metal prices. Thieves target copper wiring in streetlights, electrical infrastructure, and even high-profile sites like the Sixth Street Bridge - once known as a "ribbon of light" but now frequently darkened by repeated thefts.

The Los Angeles Police Department's Heavy Metal Task Force, established to combat metal and wire theft, made more than 100 arrests in 2024 and recovered thousands of pounds of stolen copper. Despite these efforts, the crime wave continues, with thieves often selling the material through scrap markets.In response, the city has pursued multiple strategies, including installing solar-powered streetlights in high-theft areas to eliminate vulnerable copper wiring, reinforcing enclosures, and supporting state legislation. A new law (AB 476), signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and effective January 1, 2026, increases penalties and regulations on metal recyclers to curb the black market demand.

The Los Angeles Bureau of Street Lighting faces a significant backlog of outage repairs, and residents in affected areas like Mar Vista may wait weeks for the lights to be restored.City officials urge anyone with information about copper theft to contact the LAPD or report outages through MyLA311. Authorities stress that these crimes endanger communities and drain public resources needed for other essential services.