The Clark County Commission is taking action against the ongoing problem of copper wire theft in Las Vegas by enacting a new law that would prevent the sale of these illegally obtained goods. Commissioner Michael Naft spearheaded the policy, which clamps down on cash transactions and walk-up sales at scrap yards and requires sellers to provide valid documentation when offloading seven-strand copper wire, which is often stolen from municipal and utility frameworks, according to a Clark County statement.
As stated in Clark County’s announcement, Commissioner Naft hailed the ordinance as a crucial tool for disruption, citing the devastating impact of copper theft on taxpayer wallets and community infrastructure. “This ordinance is an important tool in our efforts to crack down on the widespread problem of copper wire theft that is leaving our neighborhoods in the dark and costing taxpayers a fortune,” he said. With the hope that fewer outlets for stolen materials will lessen the incentive to steal them, the new limits are in line with current state law and coordinated with actions done by nearby regions.
Since the previous year, thieves have stolen almost a million feet of streetlight wiring, costing the local Public Works Department upwards of $1.5 million in replacements. As part of a Public Works Department pilot, several strategies have been used, including securing access panels, choosing overhead wiring, and looking into solar alternatives. These actions inspire a spirit of adaptability and resiliency in the face of an almost imperceptible enemy that relentlessly robs the city’s circulatory system.
As he states, “Staff from our Public Works Department is working to keep the streetlights on every day in our local neighborhoods, but thefts continue.” Clark County Commission Chairman Tick Segerblom concurs with the idea of strengthening defenses against these widespread thefts. The official Clark County statement read, “This ordinance will make it harder for thieves to sell stolen wire, and we hope it will make our streetlights less of a target for theft and vandalism,” he continued. Bilingual flyers and educational videos that describe how to identify and report wire theft are available to aid in these community engagement initiatives. Eradication is the ultimate goal of a larger plan, of which prevention is only one aspect.
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