Thieves strip 70,000 pounds of copper wire from light rail track
TUKWILA, Wash. -- Police are searching for the brazen thieves who made off with more than four miles of copper wire from Sound Transit's light rail tracks.
Sound Transit officials say the thieves somehow got into the hollow interior of the elevated tracks in Tukwila and, over several months, proceeded to steal roughly 70,000 pounds of wire.
Replacing the wire, which will fall to taxpayers, will cost $200,000.
Because the wire was stolen over an extended period of time, police say finding the perpetrators will be tough.
"It's difficult because you've got folks that are collecting it and within a very short period of time, it's melted down and taken away. We are not going to find this cable," said Sound Transit Police Chief Ron Griffin.
Police first learned of the theft last week when inspectors noticed something wasn't right on the track between the Tukwila station and Sea-Tac Airport. They investigated a little more and discovered the track had been stripped of its copper wire from Rainier Beach to the Tukwila International Boulevard Station
Sound Transit officials say the wiring is used to isolate stray electric current. Over many years, that current can damage the tracks, but officials say there is no danger in the short term.
Since discovering the massive theft, officers have reinforced access points and increased their monitoring of the area.
Sound Transit officials say the thieves somehow got into the hollow interior of the elevated tracks in Tukwila and, over several months, proceeded to steal roughly 70,000 pounds of wire.
Replacing the wire, which will fall to taxpayers, will cost $200,000.
Because the wire was stolen over an extended period of time, police say finding the perpetrators will be tough.
"It's difficult because you've got folks that are collecting it and within a very short period of time, it's melted down and taken away. We are not going to find this cable," said Sound Transit Police Chief Ron Griffin.
Police first learned of the theft last week when inspectors noticed something wasn't right on the track between the Tukwila station and Sea-Tac Airport. They investigated a little more and discovered the track had been stripped of its copper wire from Rainier Beach to the Tukwila International Boulevard Station
Sound Transit officials say the wiring is used to isolate stray electric current. Over many years, that current can damage the tracks, but officials say there is no danger in the short term.
Since discovering the massive theft, officers have reinforced access points and increased their monitoring of the area.
