Copper Wire Thefts Have Left Parts of Florida’s I-95 Dark

Parts of Interstate 95 in Palm Beach County have been left in the dark after thieves stole underground copper wiring needed for overhead lighting.

Authorities say 18 sites have been hit by thieves who took 175,000 feet of wiring during the past four to six months. Last week, West Palm Beach police last week urged motorists to call them or the Florida Highway Patrol if they see vehicle stopped near light poles.

The Palm Beach Post reports the problem is not limited to Palm Beach County. The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries has set up a website where law enforcement authorities in the United States and Canada can report thefts. The information is relayed to recycling plants within 100 miles of the incident.