LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Nearly 1,400 highway lights in Jefferson County are inoperable due to copper wire thefts. That’s up from around 800 in late October, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC). 

In the last two weeks, there were four instances of theft, leaving some interchanges in the dark.

"We have about 200 feet between each light pole and as much as 300 to 600 feet of wire in between each one of those," said Matt Bullock, KYTC District 5 chief district engineer. 

According to the KYTC, around 25 interchanges in Jefferson County have been hit, and some interchanges have been hit more than once. 

"We've been kind of slow on the uptake for relighting some of these interchanges," Bullock said. 

Since 2020, KYTC said the thefts have cost taxpayers nearly $1 million, taking money away from other projects.

"That's potholes or ditches; we have some drainage problems on the elevated sections of (I-64) in a downtown area," Bullock said. "Some of those things are going to get less attention when we have to spend time and resources and money on lighting issues." 

KYTC is working with the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) and the Kentucky Department of Homeland Security to raise awareness of the problem and track down the suspects.

"We're asking the public that if you see something, say something," said Sgt. Matt Sanders, LMPD media and public relations commander. "If you see somebody hanging around these fuse boxes or on your daily commute to work, you have a light that normally is always lit on the highway that's out."

KYTC is offering a $5,000 reward for anyone with information leading to an arrest.

People who cause damage exceeding $3,000 could face felony charges and prison sentences of one to five years.