Sacramento County officials are mailing notices to neighborhoods where street lights have been targeted by copper thieves.
The rate of theft has accelerated in recent weeks resulting in more than 1,000 street lights out of service, according to a county news release. Officials say the county Department of Transportation has spent more than $160,000 since January making repairs in vandalized areas.
Even though wiring is replaced, thieves are returning to the fixtures to strike again. The damage is extensive, officials said, and affects the wiring in the pole as well as the underground conduit.
The county Department of Transportation is notifying area residents of the thefts and the backlog of service to repair the damage. The department is bringing in additional resources to tackle the workload.
Department of Transportation officials estimate there is a three-month backlog of repairs. More than 66 street light circuits have been damaged countywide. The department manages and operates more than 24,000 street lights.
Officials said rigorous measures are being used to prevent future thefts. Exposed pull boxes are being filled with concrete and hand-hole covers are being welded shut after the copper wire is replaced.
To report outages or damaged poles, people are asked to call the Department of Transportation at (916) 875-5171. Street light outages also can be reported online at www.sacdot.com.
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