Copper Theft From Street Lights In City of Tucson Reaches $1,300,000.00 In Damages

Tucsonans are noticing that our mid town streets are growing ever darker. The reason being is copper theft from our city light poles. Dark streets lead to increased pedestrian fatalities, auto accidents as well as crime.

For the past 18 months, TCFC has been reporting on copper and metal theft costing business owners thousands upon thousands of dollars. In encampments like Navajo Wash, we learned long ago that not only is the copper wire from lights being stolen, the light poles are also being rewired by unsheltered individuals to power personal devices such as TVs and chargers which is extremely dangerous and destructive.

In just the past 6 months $1.3 million in damages have been done to City light poles. Neighborhoods are dark becoming even more unsafe. This is a cost of more than $7,222.00 a DAY (just in copper theft). With the poor financial situation the City has gotten itself into, losses like this are not sustainable. Mayor and Council can rest assured that the destruction of City assets is nothing new to Business owners and residence of Tucson.

Summary of damage (just to streetlights).  Throughout the city and county we have additional theft of water back-flow valves and HVAC metal:

• 1,000 street lights in The City of Tucson have been affected (in 6 months)
• This equates to the length of more than 1,200 football fields of copper wire (445,000 feet of wire)
• Dangerous to drivers of cars, busses, pedestrians and bikers
• Dangerous in neighborhoods
• MORE crime with dark streets

Streetlights stripped

Telco box ripped out wire

Telco Box stripped 

Street light wire stolen

Telco box stripped

Water backflow valve - cut and stolen

Additional issues businesses, neighborhoods and residents are dealing with:

• Damaged windows
• Open air drug usage on streets with no consequence
• theft with no consequence
• Paying for private security because TPD is not available
• Constant Trespassing with no consequence
• Barbed wire and iron fences being put up to keep businesses, employees and customers safe
• Security cameras needing to be installed
• Cactus planted as border walls to keep intruders out.
• City Parks turned into encampments and dangerous for children with no consequence
• Buses that are not safe for people to ride because of drugs and crime
• Car jackings
• Squatters in houses
• Warming fires out of control and burning everything around   

These issues are all examples of why TCFC advocated tirelessly and aided in the passage Prop 312. We as citizens and businesses can hold our elected leaders accountable financially, so they will stop supporting their failing policy of non-enforcement of our laws.

Additionally, all of this is happening as Mayor Romero is gearing up to ask taxpayers to approve an increase to the sales tax in Tucson on March 11th of 2025 (Prop 414).

PROP 414 is not only a regressive tax, but it is bad policy. TCFC will be putting out more information about Prop 414 in the coming months.

The Tucson Police Department would like you to call 911 if you see suspicious activity around street lights.

Thank You to KOLD for reporting on this

CLICK HERE: https://www.kold.com/2024/12/10/tucson-seeing-increase-copper-wire-thefts-street-lights/

The Tucson Crime Free Coalition is proud to support the Pima County Transition Center. This is an actual solution that reduces recidivism, improves lives and saves the tax payers money.

“The Transition Center was established in August 2023, supports individuals recently released from jail by offering housing, treatment, and essential resources through Justice Navigators-staff members with lived experience in the justice system. This program seeks to reduce repeat arrests, improve court attendance, and alleviate pressures on law enforcement and community resources.”

Special acknowledgement to Doyle Morrison of Pima County Justice Services and Tony Ruffin of Pillars and Bridges for hosting an open house last week.

Attached is an Annual Report for the Pima County Transition Center highlighting

achievements, significant milestones, and impact on local reentry efforts and community safety.

Key Achievements:

• Client Engagement and Outcomes: From August 2023 to August 2024, over 1,100 individuals sought assistance, with 99% utilizing at least one service. Rearrests within 30 days of release were reduced to less than 10% among participants, compared to 27% in a control group. This has led to an estimated 158 fewer misdemeanor rebookings each month, saving approximately $940,000 annually.

• Increased Service Utilization: Service demand has grown steadily, peaking in August 2024, with projections indicating the Center may serve between 1,500 and 2,700 individuals next year depending on expanded hours.

• Expanded Services: The Center now offers additional support, including family assistance, warrant resolution, help with housing and treatment resources, and non-custodial police drop-offs.

• Housing and Treatment Success: Individuals placed in housing and those who maintained contact with Navigators were 68% less likely to be rearrested within 30 days. The Center placed 160 individuals in housing and referred 421 to treatment.  Operational Impact:

• Cost Savings and Efficiency: The Transition Center and the Pima County Pretrial

Services (PTS) pre-booking program help save officer time and conserve jail space for more serious offenders. Since launching, the pre-booking program reduced the detention rate for misdemeanor offenses from 20% to below 5%.