According to SacRT, it has seen a rise in copper wire theft and related vandalism, a trend they said is also impacting transit agencies nationwide.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A bus bridge is in place on the Gold Line between Sunrise and Historic Folsom due to vandalism. Â
The Sacramento Regional Transit District, or SacRT, said crews are working to restore service and riders should check the Alert SacRT app for updates.
The disruption follows at least two other incidents tied to copper wire theft and vandalism along the light rail system. SacRT said an arrest was made Dec. 24, 2025, for copper theft near the Sunrise Station area.
Earlier this week, service was disrupted Monday, Jan. 12, between the 13th Street and Power Inn stations on the Gold Line. Another disruption is impacting service Wednesday between Sunrise and Historic Folsom.
According to SacRT, it has seen a rise in copper wire theft and related vandalism, a trend they said is also impacting transit agencies nationwide and other public infrastructure.
Last year, SacRT recorded 49 incidents involving copper theft or vandalism. Officials said each incident costs an average of $10,000 to $20,000 for materials and labor, with severe cases exceeding $50,000. Beyond the financial impact, SacRT said thefts often require suspending rail service and deploying bus bridges, disrupting riders for hours or even days.
To address the problem, SacRT said they have a multi-layered strategy, which inlcudes increased patrols in high-risk areas, additional surveillance cameras at vulnerable locations and AI-powered drone technology set to launch this year for real-time monitoring. The agency is also replacing copper wire with stainless steel, which has little to no resale value.
SacRT is asking the public to report suspicious activity, vehicles or noises near light rail stations, rights-of-way or track access points, especially overnight. SacRT said people should contact local law enforcement immediately if they see something unusual.