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Council raises alarm over copper‑wire thefts after lights out on West Seattle Bridge; SPD reports an arrest
Summary
Councilmembers urged action after repeated copper‑wire thefts left lighting dark on the West Seattle Bridge; Seattle City Light and SPD reported an arrest over the weekend and members called for infrastructure hardening to prevent recurrence.
Councilmembers raised urgent safety concerns about repeated copper‑wire thefts that have disabled lighting on the West Seattle Bridge and other infrastructure.
"Copper wire theft is a pretty big deal, including the West Seattle Bridge. The lights were out recently," Councilmember Lin said, urging prioritization of preventive measures. Lin framed the thefts as dangerous for traffic and public safety and asked colleagues to push for solutions that make theft harder.
Councilmember Saka added that Seattle City Light and SPD notified the Council that police arrested an individual Saturday night for stealing copper wire from street lights on the bridge. "Shout out to Seattle City Light, SPD for your effort to hold that individual accountable," Saka said, and called for appropriate infrastructure upgrades to harden systems against theft.
Councilmembers asked staff to coordinate with utility and public‑safety partners and with the City’s legislative agenda‑setting process where appropriate. No formal motion or vote took place during the briefing; members described follow‑up actions and expressed urgency about preventing future thefts that endanger road safety.
