PHILADELPHIA – Philadelphia city leaders today announced new measures to combat copper wire theft at parks, recreation centers, trails, public buildings, and other City properties, emphasizing the urgent need to protect public safety, preserve neighborhood resources, and ensure young people have safe places to play. The effort supports Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s vision for safer neighborhoods, stronger communities, and expanded opportunities for young people.
At a press conference at Hunting Park, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Streets Department, and Philadelphia Police Department outlined a coordinated response to thefts that have left public spaces without lighting, disrupted youth sports and recreation, and raised serious safety concerns. The event also highlighted completed lighting repairs at Hunting Park following an extended outage.
Restoring lighting after these thefts requires significant time, labor, and taxpayer dollars, leaving communities waiting for their streets, parks, trails, and facilities to become fully operational again.
“This has to stop. Our children deserve better than to show up to their neighborhood fields and find them in the dark because someone has stolen the wiring,” said Susan Slawson, Commissioner, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. “These thefts take away opportunities for young people to play, compete, and participate in programs that keep them connected to their communities. Our parks and recreation centers should be places where families feel confident bringing their children, and we are committed to keeping them that way.”
“To combat the ongoing challenge of wire theft, we are taking a multifaceted approach that includes installing new anti-theft hardware, strengthening our maintenance practices, and testing anti-theft technologies, “said Kristin Del Rossi, Streets Commissioner. “My team and I are committed to using every available resource to safeguard our street lighting infrastructure and ensure that wire theft does not disrupt the safety and the quality of life in our communities. “
The Streets Department is implementing several measures to deter wire theft and strengthen the security of the city’s street lighting infrastructure. These include installing anti-theft hardware at the base of streetlight poles to make wiring more difficult to remove while allowing maintenance crews to safely access equipment for repairs. The department is also transitioning from copper to aluminum cable, which has approximately one-fifth the scrap value of copper, reducing the financial incentive for theft. In select locations, crews will reinstall cable at the top of streetlight poles, limiting access to specialized high-reach equipment.
The Street Lighting Division is also working with its lighting management system vendor to develop a software-based solution that can detect wire movement and unauthorized access to streetlight poles. This technology will allow Streets staff to identify potential theft more quickly and coordinate an appropriate response with the Philadelphia Police Department.
The City is increasing surveillance and making infrastructure improvements to deter theft and protect vulnerable electrical systems. Departments will continue coordinating to address incidents and prevent future disruptions.
Residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity, damaged electrical boxes, and lighting outages. Maintenance issues can be reported through 311, while suspected criminal activity should be reported to 911.
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Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR) advances the prosperity of the city and the progress of its residents through intentional and sustained stewardship of nearly 10,200 acres of public land and waterways as well as through hundreds of safe, stimulating recreation, environmental and cultural centers. PPR promotes the well-being and growth of the city’s residents by connecting them to the natural world around them, to each other, and to fun, physical and social opportunities. PPR is responsible for the upkeep of historically significant Philadelphia events and specialty venues and works collaboratively with communities and organizations in leading capital projects and the introduction of inventive programming. To learn more about Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, visit www.phila.gov/parksandrec and follow @philaparkandrec on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Streets Department of Transportation (StreetsDOT) keeps the City of Philadelphia moving by providing a safe transportation network for everyone, however you choose to travel. To accomplish this, StreetsDOT builds and maintains the city’s transportation network which includes over 2,500 miles of streets, 3,000 signalized intersections, 130,000 streetlights, 350 bridges, and 80 miles of multi-use trails. This work includes right-of-way permitting, city plan review, roadway maintenance, capital projects, the School Crossing Guard program, and more.