Crime & Safety
Thieves Strike Pompei Park Again, Repairs Underway
Nearly 10 more parking lot lights were stripped of their copper wire in the theft that will cost the city nearly $15,000 in repairs was discovered Monday.
In an all too familiar scenario, thieves have stolen copper wiring from more lighting at , vandalizing poles in the area affected before.
Officers investigated the theft early Monday morning. Around eight to nine more poles were vandalized in the same parking lot as last time. Officers found the inspection cover near the bottom of the affected light poles missing, police said. Officers also discovered a broken lock to the entrance of the flood control channel behind the 1100 block of E. Allen Avenue and believe the culprits may have made entry through that point.
Officials with Community Services said that the driveway poles on the east side of the park were also compromised in addition to the eastern parking lot lights. None of the field lights were affected in either of the two thefts.
Workers have begun repairs to the affected poles Monday and repairs should be completed by the end of the week, said John Aguirre, recreation superintendent. Aguirre added that the city is adding tamper-proof bolts to the inspection plates to prevent future vandalism to the city-owned lighting.
"We've already made changes to all our existing poles," Aguirre said. "I think this has mainly been one of the largest, because most of our other parks don't have the sports lighting or the amount of parking lot lights that this facility does."
Officials estimate the total cost for repair will be under $15,000. Officials were worried that fixtures in the poles might have been compromised in addition to having the copper stolen, but upon further inspection the fixtures appear to be fine, Aguirre said, keeping repair costs much lower.
Copper thieves also struck in the Glendora Marketplace. Store officials reported around noon Jan. 27 that copper wire was taken from some truck trailers to the southeast corner of the store near the loading docks, police reported. The theft may have occurred sometime within the past week.
Pompei Park was vandalized two weeks ago, when thieves allegedly took about 200 pounds of copper, committing about $7,000 in damage, police said.
Anyone with information or sees something suspicious is asked to call the Glendora Police Department at (626) 914-8250.
