LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – It is lights out in a Summerlin neighborhood near Red Rock Canyon where many of the streetlights don’t work.
Clark County says they are aware of the problem and it is part of a larger issue: copper wire theft happening across the Vegas Valley. They currently have a revolving list of about 300 locations in need of repair after cooper wire theft has occurred.
FOX5′s Kim Passoth joins visited the West Park neighborhood. On Sagemont Drive, where three streetlights in a row were out, we spoke with a mother and daughter out for a nightly walk. With the streetlights, it is hard for them to see or be seen.
“One of my little girls tripped on a sewer cover… it was so dark,” the mother recounted. It’s also hard for drivers to see pedestrians and other vehicles. In the cover of darkness, crime is also a concern.
“You don’t feel as safe as you would normally in this part of Summerlin,” the mother shared.
“Streetlights are important for safety… I have actually noticed on the cul-de-sac there is a little late night activity,” stated Brett Robillard. The street light next to Robillard’s home is out. Clark County says since early 2022, more than 500,000 feet of wiring has been stolen from streetlights. The cost to fix them: $1 million.
“I think it is awful. I think it is unfortunately a sign of the times… If we could avoid that we could reallocate the money to other things in the community, so it is disappointing,” Robillard contended.
FOX5 has been reporting on the rash of copper wire thefts throughout the Vegas Valley from east Las Vegas and lights out on Lamb Boulevard from Charleston all the way to Sahara to businesses and A/C units hit in the Arts District.
County crews are now installing wires at the top of streetlights, more than 15 feet up, instead of underground. They are also using aluminum instead of copper, which they say has less value as scrap metal.
“Honestly, if the public sees something, if you see somebody at the bottom of a streetlight sitting around there, call the cops because they’re probably stealing the wire,” Tick Segerblom, Clark County Commission Chair requested.
The county is also working to create a regional copper theft task force, to crack down on criminals and create a reward program to report crimes.
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