Los Angeles parking enforcement and transportation officers were sidelined over the weekend after thieves damaged a critical communications tower in Elysian Park, rendering radios inoperable for several city departments.
The Los Angeles Police Department’s radio system was unaffected by the outage.
Police arrested two suspects on Saturday while they were allegedly stripping copper wiring from the tower, according to officials.
Communications Breakdown Disrupts City Services
The incident highlights a growing problem of copper theft impacting essential infrastructure in Los Angeles.
The damage left Los Angeles Department of Transportation officers unable to use their portable radios to request assistance, and the emergency buttons on those radios were also disabled. “The City’s Information Technology Agency (ITA) is exploring different options to repair the damage to the tower as quickly as possible and has been in communications with all impacted departments,” Mayor Karen Bass’s office said in a statement on Sunday. “ITA radio staff is working with LADOT to identify available functions that remain working in the radios to minimize impacts on their operations.”
As of Monday, repair efforts were ongoing, and officials from the transportation and technology departments did not respond to inquiries.
LAPD Capt. Mike Bland confirmed the outage did not affect the department’s radio system or communications. Tow truck operators contracted with the LAPD were notified of the disruption over the weekend.
While details about the suspects were not immediately released, Mayor Bass stated they would be “held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
A City Under Siege by Copper Thieves
Copper wire thefts have been escalating in Los Angeles, causing widespread disruption. The iconic 6th Street Bridge was recently darkened due to stolen wiring, and nearby neighborhoods have also been affected. These thefts have cut off phone access to emergency services for residents and caused internet outages.
In May, thieves targeted phone lines serving seniors in South Los Angeles. The following month, they triggered widespread internet service outages impacting Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Last year, blocks of Pico-Union, a densely populated neighborhood, experienced power outages following similar thefts.
- An LAPD Heavy Metal Task Force arrested over 100 individuals and recovered tons of stolen copper in 2024.
- The City Council approved a rewards program in October to incentivize information leading to arrests.
- Despite these efforts, copper thefts continue to rise, prompting new legislation.
- Assembly Bill 476, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, increases penalties for illegal scrap metal dealers.
- Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman believes the bill will help dismantle illegal operations.
In 2024, an LAPD Heavy Metal Task Force made more than 100 arrests and recovered thousands of tons of stolen copper. In October, the City Council approved an ordinance establishing a rewards program for information leading to arrests.
Despite these measures, the problem has worsened, leading city, state, and law enforcement officials to support Assembly Bill 476, which strengthens penalties against illegal junk-and-metal dealers who purchase stolen copper wire. The law, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, takes effect Thursday.
Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman said the bill will give law enforcement the tools to “shut down illegal scrap metal operations that fuel this kind of crime.”
