In a press conference at LAPD Headquarters City Council President Paul Krekorian, LAPD Detective Chief Alan Hamilton, and LAPD Commercial Crimes Division Captain Francis Boateng announced arrests of individuals and citations of businesses trafficking in stolen metals, including copper wire stripped from City street lights and other public infrastructure.
Over the last two months, a task force created by Council President Krekorian, LAPD Detective Bureau, Commercial Crimes Division and the North Hollywood Division has made multiple arrests at metal recycling businesses. Making these arrests is a necessary step to shutting down the market for stolen metal and removing the incentive for this crime against public safety.
“The individual thief may pocket $50 for a single theft of material that the recycler sells for thousands of dollars,“ said Council President Krekorian. “But the cost to the public for repairing the damage runs into the hundreds of thousands. The copper wire recovered in the last three operations has a resale value of $39,900 but cost the City half a million in damage and repair costs.”
“These arrests should send a strong signal to people who want to make a quick buck dealing in stolen metal,” said Krekorian. “Get used to the LAPD knocking at your door. Get used to handcuffs on your wrists. We are seeking to shut your business down.”
