To the editor: While directing construction of the new Metro Blue Line (now A Line) in 1989, I attended an event in Japan with then-Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley. At the event, Mayor Bradley asked me how things were going with construction back home. I told him that we had problems with the constant theft of copper cables. (“Copper thieves leave the 6th Street bridge, the 'Ribbon of Light', completely in the dark,” June 13)
The mayor wrote down the names of two leaders of the Los Angeles Police Department on a piece of paper and told me to talk to them when I returned home.
At the LAPD, I explained the problem and they ordered me to bring photographs of the types of items that were being stolen. Many of these elements were unique to transit systems and not common in the area. The Los Angeles police then distributed the photographs to all the scrap metal dealers in the area (and there were a lot of them), warning them that they were stolen goods.
Additionally, they suggested that we heavily coat these copper wires with axle grease. They were confident that even simple measures like this would help deter thieves.
That's what we did and these measures were 100% successful. Los Angeles' first modern rail transit line opened on schedule on July 14, 1990.
Today, as the lead person in charge of the design of the 6th Street Viaduct, I can't help but think about what kind of simple, practical, low-cost measures might be available to help this new landmark shine again. As Mayor Bradley understood, it's always about asking the right questions and involving the right people to solve the problem.
Edward McSpedon, West Hills
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To the editor: It is very depressing to read about the brazen theft of the valuable copper wire from the beautiful new viaduct.
This would not happen at all if aluminum conductors were used instead of copper. Copper is better in several ways, but aluminum works well as long as its design requirements are met. Copper can carry about twice as much load as aluminum for a given size, so conduits and pull boxes must be larger for aluminum wiring.
There are also all types of locking devices for electrical boxes. Electricians don't like them because they require special tools and take more time to lock and unlock, but they work if installed and maintained properly.
The fact that some of these robberies took place in broad daylight is a sad reflection of the frequency of police patrols and the fact that officers are too busy dealing with homeless encampments, street takeovers, and more. robberies.
To passersby, thieves may appear to be legitimate workers. Of course, what typical person on the street is going to call the police for something like that?
So let's stop putting precious metals on the street when the job can be done with less expensive material.
Roger Krenkler, Westlake Village
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To the editor: According to their article, in the last year there have been 6,713 cases of copper wire theft in Los Angeles, costing taxpayers $2.5 million.
Personally, thieves targeted me for two catalytic converters, which were extremely expensive to replace.
Why are these crimes tolerated? When is enough? It would seem that there must be some way to punish people who commit these crimes that would make their efforts unprofitable.
Both the thieves themselves and the buyers of these “precious metals” must be held accountable.
Peter Marquard, Northridge
