SOME WERE TREATED FOR MILD HYPOTHERMIA. IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY, A MAN IS FACING THEFT AND VANDALISM CHARGES AFTER DEPUTIES SAY HE STOLE COPPER WIRE ALONG LIGHT RAIL TRACKS. DEPUTIES ARRESTED THIS MAN, 32 YEAR OLD ADDISON JONES. THEY SAY HE WAS FOUND CUTTING COPPER WIRE BETWEEN THE SUNRISE AND HAZEL STATIONS ON CHRISTMAS EVE. DEPUTIES SAY JONES HAD WIRE CUTTERS AND STOLEN COPPER WIRE. THEY SHARED THIS PHOTO OF THOSE ITEMS. INVESTIGATORS ALSO SHARED THIS. THEY SAY ABOUT 2 POUNDS OF STOLEN COPPER WIRE AND OTHER BURGLARY TOOLS WERE FOUND IN HIS MOTEL RO
Sacramento Regional Transit’s Gold Line disrupted due to copper wire theft, agency says
Video below: Man arrested for copper wire theft along Sacramento’s light rail tracks
Updated: 11:30 AM PST Jan 12, 2026
Copper wire theft is causing disruptions along Sacramento Regional Transit’s Gold Line, the agency said Monday.The Gold Line route runs from the Sacramento Valley Station near the Amtrak station to Historic Folsom. SacRT said a bus bridge is currently in place between the 13th Street and Power Inn stations, affecting nine stops total. There is no estimated time of restoration.Vandalism involving copper wire theft is becoming an increasing problem nationwide, SacRT said. In 2025, the agency recorded 49 incidents involving either copper theft or vandalism. Each incident costs $10,000 to $20,000, with more severe cases surpassing $50,000.”Beyond financial costs, these thefts often require suspending rail service and deploying bus bridges, inconveniencing riders,” SacRT said.The rise in copper wire theft comes as the price of copper per pound increases.Earlier this month, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said it arrested a 32-year-old man in connection with copper wire theft on the tracks between the Sunrise and Hazel stations. Deputies found about two pounds of stolen copper wire and burglary tools in Addison Jones’ hotel room.SacRT said to combat the increase in theft, it is increasing patrols, adding surveillance cameras, launching AI-powered drones and replacing copper wire with stainless steel.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Copper wire theft is causing disruptions along Sacramento Regional Transit’s Gold Line, the agency said Monday.
The Gold Line route runs from the Sacramento Valley Station near the Amtrak station to Historic Folsom. SacRT said a bus bridge is currently in place between the 13th Street and Power Inn stations, affecting nine stops total. There is no estimated time of restoration.
Vandalism involving copper wire theft is becoming an increasing problem nationwide, SacRT said. In 2025, the agency recorded 49 incidents involving either copper theft or vandalism. Each incident costs $10,000 to $20,000, with more severe cases surpassing $50,000.
“Beyond financial costs, these thefts often require suspending rail service and deploying bus bridges, inconveniencing riders,” SacRT said.
The rise in copper wire theft comes as the price of copper per pound increases.
Earlier this month, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said it arrested a 32-year-old man in connection with copper wire theft on the tracks between the Sunrise and Hazel stations. Deputies found about two pounds of stolen copper wire and burglary tools in Addison Jones’ hotel room.
SacRT said to combat the increase in theft, it is increasing patrols, adding surveillance cameras, launching AI-powered drones and replacing copper wire with stainless steel.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel