Gig Harbor police are trying to identify whomever has been stealing copper wire from street lights and sports fields within the city.
The thieves have caused more than $50,000 in damages and, in some incidents, left bare wires exposed.
Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers provided information about four thefts:
* Nov. 12 from the street lights near the Gig Harbor YMCA on Harbor Hill Drive. The theft resulted in $12,000 in damages.
* Dec. 9 from the streets lights near the YMCA on Harbor Hill Drive. The theft resulted in $1,500 damage.
* Dec. 16 from the Gig Harbor Little League fields on Burnham Drive. The theft resulted in $20,000 damage.
* Jan. 13 from the Gig Harbor High School football and soccer fields. The theft resulted in $5,000 damage.
In the thefts, the suspects have taken hundreds of feet of underground wires. They break into utility boxes, disable the electric currents and then pull the wires up from the ground, Crime Stoppers reported.
Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to arrests and charges filed in the thefts. Tipsters may remain anonymous.
Reach Crime Stoppers at 253-591-5959.
Too bad we dont have our trash site collection area pay for collections of trash.
In that way the copper heads can pick up trash and turn it in for money. It would be easier work than digging up copper wire.
We would all benefit.