Wire Theft Costing SL County Residents Money

Amanda Butterfield ReportingThousands of feet of copper wire is being stolen and it's putting you at risk.

Gerhard Henshel, Biker: "I think it is wonderful."

During the day you won't notice anything wrong with the Jordan Parkway Trail.

Gerhard Henshel, Biker: "The leaves are yellow, the sun, it is pretty it is lovely."

But when the sun goes down, there's a big problem.

Val Pope, Salt Lake City Parks: "People are removing the underground wiring that provides power for security and pedestrian lights."

So if you're out when it's getting dark, there's several areas areas along the trail where the lights don't work.

Gerhard Henshel: "That's pretty sad."

Val Pope, Salt Lake City Parks: "It puts, I think, the public at risk."

And even if you live in Salt Lake and never use the trail you should still care.

Val Pope, Salt Lake City Parks: "Last year with the amount of wire stolen, and to have it reinstalled, was 35-thousand dollars."

Salt Lake City Police say this year it's up to 20-thousand.

Someone is prying their way into various electric boxes and ripping out hundreds of feet of copper wire. Police suspect that wire is being taken to to scrap metal yards for fast cash.

Det. Joe Cyr, Salt Lake City Police: "Whenever you have theft or fraud, it goes to support a drug habit somewhere."

That's a drug habit you're tax dollars may be supporting.

Val Pope, Salt Lake City Parks: "You're paying for it, i'm paying for it, it comes out of the general fund."

So here's what you do: If you notice someone around the electric boxes or notice one open, call police. It'll save you money and the lights will stay on. Once that wire has been stripped it takes a long time to get the money to fix it and schedule a contractor.

In the part of the trail where the wires have been stripped, the lights will be out for the next three to six months.

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