Arabic version: سرقة النحاس تُبقي طرق بيرث بلا إنارة

According to ABC News, more than 100 kilometres of major roads and paths across Perth remain without lighting after widespread copper thefts. Main Roads WA said that, as of October 2, more than 1,400 kilometres of cable had been stolen from its network, taking more than 100 kilometres of street lighting and nearly 30 kilometres of pedestrian and cycle-path lighting offline.

Police this week charged three people in separate alleged copper-wire theft matters. A 31-year-old man was charged after allegedly stealing more than 190 metres of telecommunications cable from Gidgegannup and selling recovered copper to a scrap metal recycler. Police said about 500 kilograms of copper was pulled from the ground at a Telstra site over the King’s Birthday long weekend in September.

Detectives also charged a man last month over the alleged theft of about 50 metres of copper cabling from an exchange site in Wattleup. This week, police arrested a 41-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman after a member of the public reported suspicious activity along Tonkin Highway in Ellenbrook. Police allege a vehicle stopped nearby contained a significant amount of stolen insulated copper wiring.

WA Police are increasingly scrutinising scrap metal recyclers, with Mundaring sergeant Tony Signal saying they are legally required to record second-hand copper dealings. Main Roads said it has replaced 480 kilometres of copper roadway and pedestrian shared-path lighting cable, and re-cabled and re-energised more than 500 poles. The state government has allocated nearly $12 million in the 2026-27 budget for cable replacement and security upgrades, while Main Roads prioritises Kwinana Freeway, Tonkin Highway and Reid Highway.