Copper thefts leave Perth roads in darkness and cost taxpayers millions

Key points

• More than 100 kilometres of major Perth roads and paths remain unlit, some for years, because of widespread copper theft. Police have charged three people this week over stolen copper wire.
• One man is alleged to have stolen telecommunication cable from Gidgegannup and sold the copper to a scrap metal recycler. Main Roads WA says more than 1,400 kilometres of cable has been stolen from its network.
• The state government has allocated nearly $12 million in the 2026-27 budget for replacement and security upgrades.