Los Angeles City Council Poised to Approve Metal Theft Reward Program
The Los Angeles City Council is expected to give final approval today to an ordinance establishing a reward program aimed at curbing the escalating problem of metal and wire theft impacting public infrastructure.
Council members voted 8-2 in favor of the ordinance last week, and a second vote is scheduled for today, October 21, 2025. If approved, the measure will then be sent to Mayor Karen Bass for her consideration. The program, initially proposed in January 2024 by Councilwoman Traci Park, alongside Councilmembers Kevin de Leon and John Lee, will offer tiered rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved in the theft of city property, including copper wire, plaques, statues, and materials linked to the Sixth Street Bridge.
Rewards will be offered at $5,000 for felony grand theft and $1,000 for misdemeanor theft. “Copper wire and other metal theft isn’t pretty — it’s organized crime that darkens our streets, cuts the internet to homes and schools, and robs us of our history when they steal statues and historic markers,” Councilwoman Park said in a previous statement. This surge in theft has led to significant disruptions in city services and increased costs for repairs, impacting residents and local businesses. The city formed the Heavy Metal Task Force earlier this year to address the issue.
Alongside the reward program, a new state law, AB 476, authored by Assemblyman Mark González, will expand reporting requirements for junk dealers and recyclers, increasing penalties for illegal scrap metal possession. Officials believe these combined efforts will provide law enforcement with additional tools to combat metal theft. Councilmembers Hugo Soto-Martinez and Eunisses Hernandez were the dissenting votes, citing concerns about prioritizing rewards over funding for preventative maintenance of existing infrastructure.
City officials anticipate the program will aid in identifying and prosecuting those responsible for these crimes, and Mayor Bass’s signature would initiate the program’s implementation.
