City Takes Unique Approach To Deter Copper Thieves

[The Northerner]

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — There is now a shocking new strategy to fight copper crime. Street lights are now staying on 24-hours a day in one Sacramento neighborhood and the city is banking on live wires to keep criminals away.

But during the day, it just seems like a waste.

“It’s a lot of money going down the drain,” says Steve Douthitt.

Steve Douthitt lives in a neighborhood where street lights stayed on all night and day for a full week.

“I’m just thinking somebody needs to reset the timer,” said Douthitt.

Read more: http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2011/05/05/city-takes-unique-approach-to-detour-copper-thieves/

[gratuitous]

1. What are the relative costs?

How much does it cost to keep the streetlights on during daylight hours versus how much does it cost to replace the copper wire after desperate people steal it? I suppose we could short circuit (npi) the whole controversy by working toward a society where people didn't have to steal copper wire to keep body and soul together. But since that's socialism, it's even worse than wasting time and money on the streetlights.