Copper wire thieves strike again in Van Nuys, cutting internet lines, leaving streets in the dark

Utility companies report copper wire thefts

Copper wire thieves in Van Nuys were caught on video stealing underground internet cables, leaving residents without service and street lighting.

LOS ANGELES - Copper wire thieves are once again targeting Los Angeles neighborhoods, this time ripping internet cables from the underground in Van Nuys, leaving residents without service and entire blocks without street lighting.

The thefts, captured on surveillance video, underscore a growing problem across the city that officials say is straining resources and posing public safety risks.

According to witnesses, the latest incident happened around 3 a.m. near Hazeltine Avenue and Sherman Way, when two suspects — one wearing a hoodie and another shirtless with a medical mask — were seen pulling cables from underground.

"I woke up to a big cling," said Candace Cervantes, who recorded the incident. "It was loud, and I was like, hold on — people have been stealing copper, because I walk these streets."

Video recorded by Cervantes shows the shirtless suspect pulling internet cables from beneath the street while the second suspect acts as a lookout near a getaway car.

"He even took a long black cable, tied it to his car," Cervantes said. "They were trying to really take out as much as they could."

Cervantes said she called 911, but police did not arrive until after the suspects had already left.

"It took them over an hour," she said. "By like 4 a.m., they were done, and they left."

The theft is part of a broader pattern in Van Nuys, where copper wire theft has also crippled street lighting. Residents say block after block has been left in the dark after wiring connected to streetlights was stripped.

"The thieves didn’t seem worried about getting caught?" reporter Matthew Seedorff asked.

"No, not at all," Cervantes responded.

Utility crews are now scrambling to keep up with repairs across Southern California. AT&T workers said additional crews from Northern California have been brought in to help restore service.

"They’ve been without service like four or five months — it’s like, damn," one worker said.

Citywide, officials say the scale of the problem is significant. There are roughly 32,000 active streetlight repair requests across Los Angeles, many tied to copper wire theft.

In response, Mayor Karen Bass recently approved a plan to replace some streetlights with solar-powered systems, which are less vulnerable to theft.

"Copper wire theft isn’t just a nuisance — it degrades our neighborhoods, harms businesses, and is a threat to public safety," Bass said in a statement. "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."

Some residents said they were unaware of the scope of the problem, while others expressed frustration as outages continue.

"It’s annoying, it’s frustrating," Cervantes said. "They don’t make it any better."

Police have not announced any arrests. Authorities are asking anyone who recognizes the suspects to contact law enforcement.