Major highways left in the dark as copper theft surges in Queensland
Copper theft is causing widespread damage to infrastructure across Queensland, costing councils millions of dollars in repairs and leaving major roads and public facilities in darkness. Authorities report the crime is largely opportunistic, driven by individuals selling stolen copper for quick cash, and has resulted in injuries and fatalities. In response, the Queensland government has introduced legislation to strengthen penalties and improve tracking of stolen metal, while councils explore technological solutions like solar lighting.
- ▪Copper theft has led to repeated outages in street lighting, communications, and community facilities across Queensland.
- ▪Police reported around 51 copper theft incidents in the southern region in the six months leading up to May 2026.
- ▪The Queensland government introduced new laws to increase penalties for metal theft and impose stricter requirements on scrap metal dealers.
- ▪Councillors and lighting advocates suggest solar-powered street lights could help reduce the incidence of copper theft.
- ▪Local Government Association CEO Alison Smith stated that councils are typically left to bear the financial burden of repairing damaged infrastructure.
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| Original publisher | ABC News (Australia) |
| Canonical URL | https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-17/queensland-councils-hit-by-copper-theft-costing-millions/106684196 |
| Publication time | Sat, 16 May 2026 21:11:01 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-16T21:20:19.019Z |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Councils hit by millions in copper theft damage across Queensland infrastructure, leaving roads in darknessBy Tobi LoftusTopic:VandalismSun 17 May 2026 at 7:11amSun 17 May 2026 at 7:11amSun 17 May 2026 at 7:11amParts of this motorway went dark in 2026, believed to be due to copper thieves stripping away wiring from street lights. (ABC News: Charlie Mclean)In short:Copper theft is costing Queensland councils millions, the Local Government Association has warned.Police say would-be thieves have died as a result of their actions.What's next? Lighting advocates say solar street lights could lead to a reduction in some thefts.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ABC News (Australia).