Copper theft, graffiti and street takeovers continue to plague LA's Sixth Street Bridge

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Despite ongoing efforts to stop copper thieves, vandals and street takeovers, the Sixth Street Bridge in downtown Los Angeles is still in the dark.

Last week, LAPD Commander Lillian Carranza said in a post on X that the iconic bridge is covered in graffiti and no longer lights up at night due to thieves repeatedly stealing the copper wiring.

The very next day, L.A. Councilmember Ysabel Jurado said crews cleaned up the graffiti-covered arches along the bridge. She added the location was added to a weekly cleanup route with the help of several community groups, including the L.A. Conservation Corps.

But there's still no fix to the bridge's lighting as its copper wiring continues to be a target for thieves.

Copper thieves have hit the Sixth Street Bridge again and again, stealing some seven miles of wiring and leaving the span in the dark.

"They want us to repair them because every light post to them is an ATM machine. It's pure cash," said former Councilmember Kevin de León. "So when we go and repair, what do they do? They go and they steal again."

De León says the city needs better and more creative ways to stop them.

"So when the thieves go back - because they will go back - they're going to have a hell of a lot harder time getting that copper wire."

The bridge re-opened in 2022, and was set to be a picturesque connection between L.A.'s Arts District and East L.A. Since then, it has been plagued with vandalism, crime and theft.