A copper wire theft early Saturday halted Sound Transit’s 2 Line in Bellevue, raising urgent concerns over infrastructure security as copper-related crimes surge across Western Washington. Thieves struck around 2 a.m., cutting through a fence and stealing critical wiring, disrupting transit service for hours and exposing vulnerabilities in regional transportation systems.
Initially, Sound Transit suspended operations between South Bellevue and Spring District stations, but soon shut down the entire line to replace the stolen cable. Shuttle buses filled the gap until full service resumed at 2:40 p.m. The 2 Line, which only launched last year and expanded to Downtown Redmond in May, is eventually expected to connect with Seattle’s 1 Line in 2026.
The copper theft happened while Sound Transit was already facing major repair work on the 1 Line in downtown Seattle. Five stations were closed over the weekend for emergency rail fixes, forcing riders to rely on alternate transportation like buses and streetcars.
Copper wire theft is not new but is becoming more frequent and brazen. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) reports 30 wire theft incidents in the Seattle metro area this year, already surpassing 2024’s count of 25 for the same time period. A May 25 theft disabled ramp meters at a key freeway interchange, snarling traffic for over a week. State officials estimate that this year’s copper thefts have already cost $500,000 and over 1,200 labor hours.
According to James Poling of WSDOT, “Thieves continue to find a way to circumvent our protective measures.” Law enforcement and transportation agencies now face mounting pressure to fortify infrastructure against recurring attacks.
Private companies have also taken a hit. Telecom giant Lumen, parent of CenturyLink, recorded 69 copper thefts in Washington in 2024 — accounting for 36% of all such incidents across North America. Each theft costs between $5,000 and $15,000. Company spokesman Dan Chason linked the crimes to drug addiction, calling it a “drug-driven enterprise.”
The damage reaches beyond transit lines and phone services. Copper wiring powers essential systems in hospitals, emergency response centers, ports, and airports. Disruptions can cascade into life-threatening consequences. Chason warned, “This isn’t just a phone line. It’s the loss of your cell signal, the loss of your doctor accessing electronic records, and in some cases, the shutdown of entire facilities.”
The Seattle area has battled copper thefts for more than a decade. Notable cases include the 2011 losses suffered by Puget Sound Energy and a 2014 conviction of a man who stole over four miles of wire from Sound Transit. In 2022, Renton police dismantled a copper theft ring. Despite past crackdowns, the crisis shows no sign of easing.
