Half a mile of copper stolen from Highland Park lights

About a dozen St. Paul streetlights are dark after someone stole about a half-mile length of copper electrical wire in the Highland Park neighborhood.

The theft occurred between April 14 and Wednesday. It was discovered when a resident reported that the lights were out, said Shannon Tyree, spokesperson for the city's public works department.

Fixing the damage will cost about $10,000 and take about a week, Tyree said.

Thieves apparently cut the wire at the panel in one post and then the far post, she said. The wire, which connects all the posts in between, was pulled out of the ground. It is about as thick as a pencil and ran through a pipe.

"It's a considerable length," Tyree said.

The stolen copper is worth a few thousand dollars, she said.

The light posts affected are on W. 7th Street between Wheeler Street S. and the Mississippi River bridge.

Copper wire thefts from city streetlights are not uncommon, but the latest incident likely involved the most ever, Tyree said.

It's unclear when the theft occurred and who the suspects are, said police spokesman Andy Skoogman.