Prosecutors, businesses fight rising KC copper thefts: ‘Taking this issue seriously’
The Jackson County prosecutor’s office and telecommunications companies are working together to ramp up awareness about and convictions of copper theft, a rising crime in the Kansas City metro that can cause communication and internet issues.
Missouri is second in the country in copper theft incidents in 2025, according to telecommunications company AT&T, with Kansas City market ranked 11th among cities.
During the first six months of the year, Kansas City had 136 separate copper theft incidents, according to AT&T.
From 2018 to 2022, the prosecutor’s office had just 12 cases of copper theft referred to them by law enforcement. But since 2023, law enforcement has referred 79 cases of copper theft to prosecutors.
So far in 2025, prosecutors have received 38 cases , with 28 of them leading to charges being filed.
“Copper theft has grown to become a threat to our community’s public safety and the ability for our businesses to operate properly and successfully,” Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson said in a statement sent to The Star
AT&T is collaborating with Missouri law enforcement and offering a reward of up to $20,000 for tips that lead to an arrest and conviction of copper cable theft or its attempted sale, according to a news release.
Between June and Dec. 2024, the telecommunications industry experienced nearly 6,000 reported incidents of copper theft and infrastructure vandalism nationwide, according to a report from the Internet & Television Association, an industry lobbying group.
The group believes the rising value of copper is to blame for these incidents, which have also affected companies like Google and Spectrum in Kansas City and nationwide, which have experienced vandalism to their fiber lines.
The Kansas City Police Department tracks property crime, but not specifically copper theft, with a spokesperson stating the department has not seen “any great increases” in the crimes, but that there is heightened awareness of the issue.
“There have been telecommunications interruptions due to copper theft and attempted thefts that have increased the awareness and focus on the issue,” according to Kansas City police spokesperson Alayna Gonzalez.
The prosecutor says, however, that it’s an issue they’re taking seriously.
“These crimes disrupt telecommunications, cause power outages, could disrupt emergency services communications, impact residents’ utilities, and cost businesses hundreds of thousands of dollars in repairs,” Johnson said. “We are taking this issue seriously and working collaboratively with law enforcement to ensure these offenders are held accountable.”
