Is Cement The Solution To Streetlight Copper Wire Thieves? | Crime

If your street light isn't working in Fresno chances are a copper wire thief is responsible.

550 street lights were put out of service by copper wire thieves last year in Fresno. 96 of those locations still waiting to be repaired are in Northwest Fresno.

Wednesday night, Councilman Andreas Borgeas held a district meeting to discuss the problem and a possible solution. The turnout surprised Councilman Borgeas. What shocked him even more was how many people in the crowd have been victims of crime.

Avnell Daniels is a Fresno businesswoman who had her three air conditioners on her building vandalized. "They took the motors, they took the copper out of them. Now I'm hiring a patrol to go through all the buildings. I don't know what good that's gonna do."

Daniels says crooks have no fear of the law anymore. "The only solution is to keep these people in jail. They know they're gonna serve one day and be out the next morning."

Councilman Borgeas brought the city manager, assistant city manager, police captain and the public works director to explain how bad the street light problem is in Fresno. Borgeas says taxpayers are spending $75,000 a month to repair lights hit by vandals.

The cost to repair a light including rewiring is approximately $400 per light. He says the cost to fill the box with cement and keep vandals out is only $20. Something he supports. "That is the recommendation by the city staff and engineering staff of the city of Fresno that is most cost efficient and reliable way to make sure copper wiring isn't stolen," Councilman Borgeas said.

Kathy Aboularage knows what it's like not to have street lighting for weeks and weeks. "I think at first we didn't really realize how dark it was in there. We live on a cul-de-sac of ten homes, and it was extremely dark when it became winter."

Councilman Borgeas says street lights are costing taxpayers a bundle and it's time to make it a priority and cement in the wiring on the city's 41,000 street lights."