Copper Thefts Hitting Chula Vista Hard

CHULA VISTA, Calif. -- With copper selling for just under $4 per pound, it has become the metal of choice for many thieves.

The city of Chula Vista has been hit especially hit hard.

Thieves know exactly where to find it -- in your car, carrying water under the ground and in street lights, which is where Chula Vista has been hit the hardest.

"Copper is worth a lot of money. You can sell it for high prices, especially if you get it for free," said Jack Griffin of Chula Vista Public Works.

Chula Vista has had about 30,000 feet of copper stolen since June, at a cost of about $50,000.

Griffin said, "That's not a trend we can continue to live with. We have to figure out how to stop this problem."

One possible solution is a vandal-resistant box that goes around existing pull boxes on Chula Vista street lights.

"It's a deterrent; it can prevent thieves from opening the lid," said Tom Moran of McCain, Inc.

The boxes are not cheap, however. Each box is $150 and Chula Vista has thousands of boxes to retrofit.

But city officials said it will pay off in the long run.

"Almost every day or every other day we are having some sort of incident," said Griffin.