Las Vegas Valley leader Commissioner Michael Naft is urging Nevada lawmakers to pass legislation to toughen penalties for copper thieves, following a recent massive outage that affected the Strip and the airport. Three arrests were made in connection with a NV Energy substation theft that left Allegiant Stadium in the dark, among other locations. Naft emphasized the safety risk posed by copper theft in neighborhoods and called for legislation similar to the 2023 law targeting catalytic converter thefts.
The proposed legislation would make it illegal to possess stolen copper and is currently in the drafting stages. While some advocates are pushing for strict penalties for possession, others are questioning what the appropriate punishment should be. The success of the 2023 law targeting catalytic converter thefts has prompted Naft to push for similar measures to combat copper theft.
Naft previously helped pass an ordinance to prevent the sale of stolen copper to local recyclers and believes it is crucial for the Legislature to address the issue promptly. The legislation aims to deter individuals from carrying stolen copper wire and hold them accountable for their actions.
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