This story was originally posted on MyNorthwest.com
King County prosecutors are urging lawmakers to crack down on copper wire theft as rising metal prices fuel a surge in targeted attacks on communication infrastructure. Gary Ernsdorff, a senior deputy prosecuting attorney with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, said thieves have shifted from catalytic converters to copper communication lines, leaving neighborhoods without critical services.
“Thieves are opportunistic, and as conditions change, as the economy changes, they look for different opportunities,” Ernsdorff said. “One of the things we’ve seen recently is a rise in copper prices … so the thieves are looking for an opportunity to cash in on this.”…