Copper Theft Sparks Power Outage | Lawrence News

Late Tuesday night in Kansas City’s Waldo neighborhood, a brazen copper theft spree sent shockwaves through the community—vandalizing utility poles, sparking explosions, and plunging 1,800 homes into darkness. Residents fled with pets as flames licked nearby wires, fearing fire. AT&T confirmed the theft, citing a nationwide surge in copper theft—especially in Missouri, Texas, and California—and is offering a $20,000 reward to catch the culprits. The aftermath left melted cables and frayed wires littering sidewalks, with some facing life-threatening consequences like CPAP machines shutting off and babies waking in panic. This isn’t just vandalism—it’s a costly, dangerous epidemic threatening everyday safety and infrastructure. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/2f0a24c905a307a0