Mayor Bass, Assemblymember González Urge Support for Proposed Legislation to Crack Down on Metal Theft, Create Statewide Law Enforcement Database

En Español

한국어

AB 1941 Aims to Target Repeat and Organized Offenders and Create a Statewide Data-sharing Tool to Combat Heavy Metal Theft

Mayor Bass, Assemblymember González Visit Local Business Impacted by Copper Wire Theft Along Wilshire Boulevard

LOS ANGELES - Mayor Karen Bass and Assemblymember Mark González today visited BCD Tofu House in Koreatown, which has been impacted by copper wire theft along Wilshire Boulevard. Mayor Bass met with BCD's owner to discuss the real-world consequences of this theft and to announce her support for AB 1941, new state legislation introduced by Assemblymember Mark González to combat organized metal theft in Los Angeles and across California. B-roll and photos from the business visit can be found here.

Copper wire theft is a leading cause of streetlight outages in Los Angeles. AB 1941 seeks to strengthen enforcement by targeting repeat and organized offenders who steal or traffic stolen materials and establish a statewide data-sharing tool to allow law enforcement, public agencies, and private partners (telecom companies, recycling centers, etc.) to share information and track organized theft operations. The legislation is sponsored by CalBroadband, the League of California Cities, and USTelecom - The Broadband Association.

"Copper wire theft isn't just a nuisance - it degrades our neighborhoods, harms businesses, and is a threat to public safety," said Mayor Bass. "We're taking action locally to install solar street lights and train LAPD officers in every part of L.A. to go after these criminals, and AB 1941 brings in the full weight of the State of California to back us up. We are committed to fighting this reckless crime and ensure those responsible face serious consequences."

"Copper wire thieves have taken it too damn far," said Assemblymember Mark González. "Time and time again, we see news stories of thieves destroying street lighting, cutting phone lines, or even damaging public transportation infrastructure - walking away with scraps worth a couple of hundred bucks, yet costing our cities millions in repairs. With this legislation, we shine a light through the darkness and emphasize the real issue. There are bad actors, treating our neighborhoods like scrap yards - taking wires and metal parts from our city infrastructure just to make a quick buck. We need to come together to remind these vandals that endangering our communities with a senseless crime will come with hefty consequences."

"Across Los Angeles, especially in Koreatown, the most densely populated neighborhood in our city, we are seeing firsthand how copper wire theft is stealing away our peace of mind and our city's budget dollars," said Steve Kang, President of the Board of Public Works. "AB 1941 will strengthen our ability to track, prevent, and respond to organized metal theft through improved data-sharing and coordination. This legislation will provide our agencies with the tools needed to better protect critical infrastructure, hold bad actors accountable, and safeguard the communities we serve."

Mayor Bass' administration continues to lead aggressive action to combat copper wire theft, including:

• Installing hundreds of solar-powered streetlights, which are less susceptible to theft, in neighborhoods including Watts, Historic Filipinotown, and Van Nuys.

• Signing the City Council's Metal and Wire Theft Reward program last October.

• Training LAPD Officers in every Bureau to target and investigate metal theft and wire-identification techniques.

• Previously supporting Assemblymember Gonzalez's AB 476 (signed into law by Gov. Newsom) to strengthen enforcement tools, protect critical infrastructure, and hold scrap metal dealers accountable.