A team of investigators led by the Contra Costa County district attorney is cracking down on the growing  problem of metal theft.  Authorities raided seven scrap metal recycling yards Tuesday as part of an ongoing investigation.

 

PG&E spokeswoman Brandi Ehlers says the utility has experienced copper theft throughout its system.

 

“Besides being illegal, it’s extremely dangerous to try to steal energized electrical wire,” says Ehlers.  “And attempts at doing so have led to fatal electrocution as well as serious injury."

 

In addition, Ehlers says there’s been cases of copper theft that jeopardized public safety when thieves stole wire and cut off electrical power to hospitals, 911 phone systems, traffic signals and railroad crossings.

 

Ehlers says the utility lost more than $5 million as a result of 2,200 incidents of copper and related thefts between 2005 and 2011. 

 

The raid was the result of a sting operation where undercover agents peddled utility and railroad-supplied copper wire and communications cable to local junk dealers.  Ehlers says the company identified two cases from the raid involving PG&E property.

 

Union Pacific Railroad also participated in the raids. Spokesman Aaron Hunt says thieves frequently hit the railroad for its copper, and "it creates a reverberating effect throughout our network.  So it's something that we really have to attack."

Scrapyard owners could face fines or criminal charges for buying stolen metal; some owners say it's often difficult to tell where the metal they're offered comes from.