Santa Clara County Sees Surge in Copper Thefts, New Laws Aim to Combat Crisis
SAN JOSE, CA – Copper theft is escalating across Santa Clara County, impacting businesses and essential infrastructure, according to experts who discussed the issue recently. The problem is fueled by rising copper prices and a robust resale market, prompting local officials to seek solutions including increased law enforcement efforts and new legislation.
The surge in thefts has prompted undercover operations by local police, with at least two publicly reported in recent months, according to David Gibbons-Shapiro. “If you’re buying stolen copper, the person you might be buying it from might be a police detective,” he warned.
The economic impact extends beyond direct losses. Kat Angelov, a policy manager for the San jose Chamber of commerce, explained that businesses suffer both directly and indirectly. “Downed lights might discourage patrons from being in a certain area,” she said. “Sometimes, thieves might mistake copper wire for other cables.” Angelov highlighted the disruption to small businesses, noting that stolen internet cables can leave them without service for hours, costing them valuable operational time. “So we hear particularly about small businesses having issues with their internet that’ll go down. It takes hours for a crew to come out and fix it, so then that small business loses four, five, six hours of prospect and operation.”
The demand for copper is a key driver of the problem. Janus Norman, president and CEO of Cal Broadband, pointed to a significant price increase. “If you look at the data, copper prices in 2020 were about $2.80. They increased about 63% now to about $4.55,” Norman stated. He also noted the profitability of selling stolen copper on the black market.
Though, relief might potentially be on the horizon with the implementation of two new California laws. Assembly bill 476, effective January, criminalizes the possession of metal from essential infrastructure and mandates detailed record-keeping by metal recyclers. Assembly Bill 2371, which went into effect in September 2024, simplifies the process for cities to secure industrial sites with electric fences.
Despite these measures, Norman cautioned that the demand – and therefore the price – of copper is expected to continue rising due to its essential role in numerous services.
Copyright © 2025 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express writen consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.
