Copper crime took a deadly turn in Portland, OR this month after a thief stole wiring from a traffic signal, setting off a chain of events that ended in a fatal crash. The Dec. 11 incident highlights how copper crime and other low-level offenses can escalate into life-and-death consequences in a city already struggling to enforce the law.
Authorities say a thief cut copper wire from a traffic light control box, disabling the signal at a busy intersection. With the light out, traffic backed up and visibility deteriorated. Fifty-two-year-old motorcyclist James P. Goldsmith collided with a semi-truck and died at the scene. Investigators later confirmed the signal failure stemmed from the stolen wiring. Police have not identified a suspect.
The crash comes amid broader concerns about Portland’s handling of petty theft. A 2024 investigation by the Oregonian found that misdemeanor theft cases dropped 60 percent between 2019 and 2023, indicating that many suspects avoid prosecution altogether. The pattern extends beyond retail theft, touching infrastructure crimes like copper wire theft that directly impact public safety.
State policy has played a role. A 2022 Oregon bail reform law encourages the rapid release of defendants accused of low-level crimes. Even when charges are filed, more than 85 percent of retail theft suspects fail to appear in court, and 70 percent are not convicted, according to the Oregonian.
Local business owners say the system invites repeat offenses. “It’s catch and release,” one Portland business owner told the outlet. “It’s the same 10, 20, 30, 40 people who are creating tons and tons of havoc and are tying up all sorts of resources.”
The fatal crash underscores how unchecked copper crime can ripple outward, turning what many dismiss as minor theft into irreversible tragedy.
