By Associated Press - Monday, March 24, 2014

PORTAGE, Ind. (AP) - Indiana highway officials say they’ve seen a decrease in the theft of wiring from roadside lights since putting out a warning about the brazen metal thieves in December.

The stealing of copper wiring by thieves wearing helmets and safety vests and posing as highway workers had darkened stretches of highway, including parts of Interstate 65 and I-80/94 in northwestern Indiana.

State highway department spokesman Matt Deitchley tells the Post-Tribune (https://bit.ly/1hUu0o0 ) that crews are crediting counter-theft measures put in place with state police for stemming the thefts. He says details about those measures aren’t being released to keep the thieves in the dark.



Agency officials say it has spent $300,000 to $400,000 replacing lights.

___

Information from: Post-Tribune, https://www.post-trib.com

Copyright © 2026 The Washington Times, LLC.

Please read our comment policy before commenting.