UPDATE: CrimeStoppers Offers $1,000 Reward For Copper Wire Thieves

UPDATE: Authorities are offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of University Place's copper wire thieves.

"Sometime between 6 p.m., on Friday April 1, and 9:00 a.m., on Saturday April 2, unidentified suspect(s) pried open electrical junction boxes in the 5800 block and the 6000 block of Grandview Dr. in the City of University Place," according to CrimeStoppers of Tacoma & Pierce County. "The suspect(s) then removed approximately 1,500 feet of copper electrical wire, at an estimated loss to the City in excess of $3000."

A copy of the CrimeStoppers notice is attached to the this story.

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You know it's bad when a city is forced to weld something shut to deter thieves.

But that's exactly what University Place says it will do to the lids of some of its light poles after thieves ripped them off to steal the poles' copper wiring earlier this month.

The city was investigating why some streetlights were out at the end of Grandview Drive West last Monday. They discovered someone opened the electrical box and stole 300 feet of copper wire, which officials have said could be sold for cash.

Overall, thieves took $1,500 worth of wire, or about $3,000 worth.

Over the weekend April 2-3, the lights at the roundabout at 48th Street West and Grandview, as well as the street's 6000 block.

Gary Cooper, the city's public works director, wrote in an e-mail to officials that the crews will now have to weld the lids shut.

"Sad thing is despite copper wire being at an all time high, the real expense is the labor to re-install and re-hook the lights," he wrote. "As both screwing and riveting the access boxes has failed to deter the thieves we will now attempt to weld the lids shut. This makes it difficult for the thieves but also for  us to gain access for maintenance."

The city also reports that someone stole street signs on Grandview. The city asks that anyone with knowledge of any of the damage to call police.

"Acts like this take limited dollars away from other needed projects," according to Mayor Debbie Klosowski.