Copper wire theft is damaging critical infrastructure across Logan and putting lives in danger – and ratepayers are footing the repair bill.
Logan City Council says the crime is escalating, with copper cabling stolen from public lighting at nine locations across the city, including four sites at Yarrabilba.
The repair bill has already surpassed $200,000 this financial year.
The financial impact has surged sharply from the previous 2024/2025 financial year, when more than $100,000 was spent on repairs.
A council spokesperson said the issue was having “serious financial, safety and community impacts”, with relatively small amounts of stolen copper triggering far greater replacement costs.
“Copper worth around $2000 can cost up to $20,000 to replace,” the spokesperson said.
The thefts are also creating safety risks.
In some cases, damaged infrastructure has left live wires exposed, posing a potential electrocution hazard to the public.
Along Springwood Road, Rochdale resident Callum Whatmore said he noticed entire sections of bikeway lighting had gone dark earlier this year.
“I’ve sort of worked out the boundaries of where they’ve stolen it from, it’s about 500 metres,” Mr Whatmore said.
“It used to be lit, and now it’s no longer lit up, it’s just dark.”
Mr Whatmore, who regularly uses the affected bikeway, said the outages have changed how people experience the space, particularly in the early morning.
“I usually go for a morning run or ride twice or so a week,” he said, adding that lighting loss can make the area feel less accessible for those trying to use the path safely.
Mr Whatmore said the damage extended beyond lighting outages, with infrastructure left open and potentially dangerous.
“I thought it could be a safety hazard with curious kids around and just on the footpath,” he said.
A council spokesperson said repair timeframes can vary significantly depending on the extent of the damage, as well as safety requirements, traffic management and the availability of specialised materials and contractors needed to complete the work.
The spokesperson said the council was working with the Queensland Police Service, the Department of Transport and Main Roads, energy providers and other local governments to identify hotspots and respond to the growing problem.
Regular inter-agency meetings are being held as part of that effort.
Authorities are trialing prevention measures, including replacing copper with aluminium cabling in some areas, such as Yarrabilba.
The material has lower resale value and early signs suggest it is helping to deter theft.
The council spokesperson said thefts had also been reported along major transport and active-transport corridors managed by other agencies, including the Department of Transport and Main Roads and Energex, highlighting the scale of the issue across Logan’s road and pathway networks.
A Department of Transport spokesperson said crews were working to restore outages as quickly and safely as possible, while also introducing stronger protections for roadside assets, increased CCTV monitoring and more frequent inspections.
Queensland Police Service encourages community members to report any suspicious behaviour, such as individuals removing materials from construction sites, sporting fields, or utility areas, or signs of discarded cable insulation and open access to utilities.
Residents and businesses are advised to conduct security audits of their properties and secure areas where copper wiring or other valuable materials are stored.
Police investigate all complaints of wire theft and work to identify and prosecute offenders, who may face serious criminal charges such as burglary and stealing.
Public awareness campaigns are ongoing to educate the community about the dangers of copper theft, including the risks of serious injury or death to both thieves and innocent bystanders.
