Copper Thieves Darken Nation's Capitol

D.C. copper thieves may be posing as road crews

WASHINGTON - Copper thieves possibly posing as road crews are causing parts of the District to go dark.

The D.C. Department of Transportation says thieves have stolen copper wire installed in underground conduits at least four times in recent weeks. Officials say in some cases the thieves may be posing as road contractors at staged work zones in order to commit the crime. They may even be detouring traffic.

One wire theft caused an illuminated Interstate 295 sign to go dark on northbound Kenilworth Avenue between Polk Street and Eastern Avenue...

...The thefts come as scrap metal dealers are paying nearly $3 per pound for copper wire. Acting DDOT Director Terry Bellamy says the incidents constitute a "community safety problem." ...

...In an incident in the 2700 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue SE, a man was transported to a local hospital after suffering burns in what may been an attempted theft of copper wire. 

It's just really sad, but somehow oddly encouraging that thieves have the initiative to recycle a commodity to stay off welfare, in the heart of the welfare state.