LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Light after light after light on Louisville’s interstates is inoperable. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said that’s because of copper wire thefts.

What You Need To Know

  • 1500 highway lights are currently inoperable because they've been stripped of their copper wire

  • Local, state and private organizations are partnering to create the critical infrastructure task force to help stop the problem

  •  Louisville Metro Police and Louisville Metro Council are discussing ways to improve local ordiances and fix loopholes

  • KYTC is offering a $5,000 reward and AT&T is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction

“They’re also creating safety hazards for drivers and pedestrians and potentially leaving neighborhoods more vulnerable to crime, when streetlights are out,” said Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville.

Fifteen-hundred highway lights are currently inoperable because they’ve been stripped of their copper wire in Louisville. KYTC said it’s cost them over $1 million since 2020 in repairs and labor.

People are also stealing wires from AT&T and LG&E KU.

“Much of the wiring you see on our structures and in our substations are ground wires that are made of steel with a copper coating. They are typically not solid copper. This wire is not worth stealing and is certainly not worth the risk that is taken to remove it,” said Tom Jessee, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, LG&E and KU.

Local, state and private organizations are partnering to create the critical infrastructure task force to help stop the problem.

“The goal of the critical infrastructure task force is to coordinate all of our efforts so we can prevent these copper theft crimes, catch the individuals who are responsible for the crimes, and prosecute the criminals who are committing these crimes,” Greenberg said.

Through the task force partnership, Louisville Metro Council is taking feedback from Louisville Metro Police to improve local laws. Some ideas on the table are increasing reporting requirements when people drop off copper at scrap yards, or putting limitations on burned wires.

“We look forward to working with LMPD to identify other opportunities to strengthen our, metal sales ordinances and recyclers ordinances, to make sure that if there are thieves that are taking advantage of any loopholes in the law, that we address those,” said Markus Winkler, president of the Louisville Metro Council.

KYTC is offering a $5,000 reward and AT&T is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

Earlier this year KYTC installed solar panels on highway lights on four ramps in Louisville. That means those lights no longer use copper wire. That project cost $200,000. KYTC said it’s more cost effective than repeatedly replacing copper wire.

“The goal would be to reduce or strictly eliminate copper wire from our systems, and that … obviously, then makes it very much less attractive to these thieves,” said Maryellen Mynear, inspector general with Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

Officials are asking the public to stay vigilant and to report tips to 502-574-LMPD (5673).

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