Crime & Safety

Copper-Wire Vandalism, Theft Hits Danville Park

Vandals cut copper-wires in four electrical junction boxes at Hap Magee Ranch park Wednesday night.

Vandals cut copper-wires at four electrical junction boxes in Hap Magee Ranch park Wednesday night, leaving 10 out of about 22 pathway lights at the park without electricity Thursday night.

Danville Assistant Town Manager Marcia Somers said the incident is an example of copper-wire vandalism and theft that has occurred throughout the Bay Area during the past year.

"In the last year theft of copper-wire has been a lucrative business," said Somers.

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The Shoreline Amphitheatre in Moutain View was hit with a copper-wire theft earlier this month. It was estimated that $1,000 in wire was removed in that incident.

Copper was selling for $3.34 a pound at market close Thursday.

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Jed Johnson, Maintenance Services Manager for the Town of Danville, discovered the cut wires Thursday morning around 10 a.m. when he saw an electrical junction box's concrete cover askew near the park's cottage.

"They know what they're doing. They know where to cut," said Johnson of the vandals and their clean cuts on the green and white copper-wires.

Johnson said sports field lighting at Sycamore Valley and Diablo Vista parks were hit by the copper-wire vandalism and theft last fall.

This is the first time pathway lighting has been hit at a park in Danville, said Somers.

Johnson added that San Ramon, Concord and Pleasant Hill were hit with similar incidents during the last couple of years.

"As they step up their efforts, we'll step up ours," said Johnson of the vandals.

Johnson is working with Lt. Mark Williams of the Danville Police Department to investigate the case.

Somers said adding park surveillance, such as video cameras, could be part of the Phase III capital improvement project for the Hap Magee Ranch park. The joint Hap Magee Ranch park planning and operations committee discussed possible improvements at a meeting Thursday night.

An electrician will be at the park Friday afternoon to give the Town a repair-estimate for the damaged copper-wiring.


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