Concord Council Addresses Copper Thefts

The ongoing problem of copper wire thefts is on the agenda of the Concord City Council.

The Concord City Council meets at 6:30 p.m. today (Tuesday) in the council chamber, 1950 Parkside Dr., Concord. The agenda includes a presentation on copper thefts from Justin Ezell.

Also on the agenda is a proposal for the council to declare a state of emergency at Camp Concord in the Sierra Nevadas because of theft of copper plumbing materials which, if not replaced and repaired soon, will hamper the camp's ability to open in May.

The city is also scrambling to provide service after a recent theft of copper wire at light standards along Port Chicago Highway on the approach to the North Concord BART station. A permanent fix is coming in the spring, but city crews have managed an inexpensive, temporary fix with solar-powered, low-wattage lights at the top of the light poles, according to a city news release.

The city is looking for effective methods to deter copper thieves. The thefts have cost the city more than $700,000 in replacement costs, according to the city.

The problem is so prevalent that a county task force last June conducted a sting on area recycling agencies and junk dealers, showing that they failed to check whether copper and other metals were stolen.