The Clark County Commission passed a new ordinance Tuesday in the latest effort to combat copper wire theft across Las Vegas.
The ordinance prohibits the purchase of seven-strand copper wire commonly used in municipal or utility operations unless sellers provide documentation that verifies the wire was lawfully acquired. It also makes it illegal for businesses to purchase scrap metal from walk-up sellers and prohibits cash payments for copper wire.
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“This ordinance is an important tool in our efforts to crack down on the widespread problem of copper wire theft that is leaving our neighborhoods in the dark and costing taxpayers a fortune,” said Commissioner Michael Naft. “If you can’t sell stolen wire, there’s no reason to steal it.”
Clark County’s Public Works Department estimates that nearly 1 million feet of streetlight wiring has been stolen since 2022, with more than $1.5 million replaced during that time.