A spike in copper wire thefts has left many streets across Long Beach poorly lit or completely dark, prompting safety concerns from residents who say the problem has persisted for years.
In some neighborhoods, streetlights are completely out, while others appear dim, leaving stretches of roadway difficult to navigate after sunset.
Near the intersection of Redondo Avenue and Second Street, residents say the lack of lighting makes it hard to see pedestrians crossing the street just a few feet away.
“There are a lot of stop signs around, and so it’s difficult to be seen in the dark,” said Melissa Clarke, a Long Beach resident. “So you never know if a car is going to stop or not and so that is probably one of the biggest danger points for me.”
Others say the darkened streets make them feel unsafe when walking alone at night.
“I didn’t feel safe,” said Morgan Smith, who said a recent walk in her neighborhood left her uneasy. “I was constantly looking over my shoulder, but I am always nervous. So I wish that the streets were more lit up for sure.”
Residents say the lighting issue has changed their daily routines, with some avoiding walking at night or choosing only well-populated areas.
“We walk less. We walk less,” said Long Beach resident Ella Benhagai. “Or we walk where it’s crowded. But it still feels, you know, dangerous.”
Authorities say a recent increase in copper wire theft may be behind the growing number of dim or nonworking streetlights.
“I mean, we have the poles, they should have bulbs in them,” said Long Beach resident Kevin Cook.
The Long Beach Police Department is encouraging residents to report suspicious activity, including vehicles lingering in alleys, people tampering with utility infrastructure, or unusual nighttime activity near commercial buildings.
Utility provider Southern California Edison said it is aware of the problem. In a statement, the company said the city of Long Beach recently raised the issue and that Edison has offered full cooperation. The company also encouraged customers to report streetlight outages through its outage reporting website.
Residents say they want city officials to do more to prevent copper wire theft and to create a plan to repair broken streetlights quickly and add more lighting to dark streets.