Miami

Copper Theft Targeting Miami Beach Lightpoles

Miami Beach officials are trying to fight back against a series of burglaries that have plunged neighborhoods into darkness.

The thieves are targeting light poles and stealing the copper wire contained inside. The wire inside the light fixtures is valuable on the black market. Miami Beach Police have gone as far as placing their own camera crews out to document the trouble the copper thieves are causing.

“Folks are taking advantage and attacking our light poles and similar street fixtures to rip out as much copper wire as they can in the middle of the night,” said Miami Beach City Manager Jimmy Morales. “All of a sudden, you’ve got a block that’s in the dark.”

Multiple locations have had to be repaired after the copper thieves hit. It’s all coming at a cost to taxpayers.

“Just the replacement of it is costing us between material and labor, over $200,000,” said Morales.

Miami Beach Police detectives said they are after Frederick Hamm, who they believe may be involved with some of the thefts. Detective Chris Mitchell also said there are four other men he wants to talk to about the copper thefts: Armando Sanchez, Daniel Ambrose, Luiz Lopez, and Tony Prado.

“We seem to think this is just not one or two individuals, it’s an organized crime,” said Detective Mitchell. “We seem to think this is a group of individuals working for one particular person.”

Police said the areas that have been hit the hardest are: MacArthur Causeway, South Point Park and its neighborhoods, and the boardwalk.

Morales told NBC 6’s Willard Shepard the city is trying to stay a step ahead of the thieves by replacing the copper with aluminum. Detective Mitchell said if you see someone near a light pole without a city uniform call 911.

If you have information locating the men involved or about the copper thefts, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477).

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