Copper thefts leave Perth roads in darkness and cost taxpayers millions
More than 100 kilometres of major roads and paths across Perth remain dark without street lighting because organised crime groups are selling lucrative stolen copper on the black market.
Copper thefts in Perth have left major roads and paths dark, costing taxpayers millions and straining the city's infrastructure. Over 100 kilometres of roads remain unlit, some for years, as copper wire is stolen and sold on the black market. Police have charged three individuals for copper theft, with one man allegedly stealing over 190 metres of telecommunication cable from a Telstra site.
The WA government has allocated nearly $12 million in the 2026-27 state budget to replace stolen street lighting cable and upgrade security. Police are increasingly scrutinising scrap metal recyclers due to concerns about illicit activity, and they are working to ensure that dealers are complying with laws and reporting suspicious activity.
Brief written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
