Minneapolis Rewires 700 Streetlights with Aluminum to Stop Copper Theft

City crews have spent the past year replacing copper wiring with aluminum in an effort to deter ongoing scrap metal theft.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 1:36am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a damaged streetlight sensor or wiring, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually illustrating the impact of copper theft on Minneapolis' infrastructure.Streetlight vandalism and copper theft have left many Minneapolis neighborhoods in the dark, raising safety concerns and spurring the city to take action.Minneapolis Today

Minneapolis has rewired over 700 streetlights, swapping out copper wiring for aluminum in an effort to stop ongoing copper theft that has left many neighborhoods in the dark. The city says the copper thefts, often committed by scrappers looking to sell the metal, have been a persistent problem for years, with some residents reporting their local streetlights being targeted multiple times.

Why it matters

Streetlight outages due to copper theft have raised safety concerns in Minneapolis neighborhoods, with residents reporting an increase in car break-ins and other crimes when lights are not functioning. The city's move to aluminum wiring aims to make the streetlights less attractive targets for scrappers and thieves, helping to keep neighborhoods illuminated and secure.

The details

Minneapolis crews have spent the past year replacing the copper wiring inside over 700 streetlights with aluminum, a material that is less valuable to scrappers and thieves. The city says most of the rewired lights are located along parkways, with a small number still needing to be fixed. Resident Amanda Olson said she has seen the copper theft issue firsthand, with the lights near her south Minneapolis home being targeted nearly six times.

  • Minneapolis crews have spent the past year rewiring the streetlights.
  • The city says most of the 700 rewired lights are located along parkways.

The players

Amanda Olson

A Minneapolis resident who has experienced repeated copper theft from streetlights near her home, leading to safety concerns in her neighborhood.

Minneapolis

The city that has undertaken a large-scale effort to replace copper wiring in over 700 streetlights with aluminum in order to deter ongoing scrap metal theft.

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What they’re saying

“It's crazy. It just blows my mind.”

— Amanda Olson, Minneapolis Resident

“If someone's going to steal something, they're going to steal it regardless of what kind of material it is. That's just how I feel about it anyways.”

— Amanda Olson, Minneapolis Resident

The takeaway

Minneapolis' efforts to combat persistent copper theft from streetlights by replacing the wiring with less valuable aluminum highlights the ongoing challenge cities face in maintaining critical infrastructure in the face of criminal activity. While the new aluminum wiring may deter some theft, the city will need to remain vigilant and explore additional security measures to fully protect its streetlights and keep neighborhoods illuminated and safe.