{
  "id": 15033261,
  "title": "Copper thefts leave Perth roads in darkness and cost taxpayers millions",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/copper-thefts-leave-perth-roads-in-darkness-and-cost-taxpayers",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T20:11:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-17/copper-thefts-perth-roads-cost-taxpayers-millions/107276214"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "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.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}