Copper thiefs are a problem around here.

I'm in Bakersfield, Kern County.

Our area has a lot of farmland. The carrot company I used to work for has a lot of its growing area around here, but also up in the Lancaster/Palmdale area of Los Angeles County. They also have acreage in the Cuyama Valley, which straddles Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County.

I used to have to deal with water, electrical, and political authorities in all those areas. The company also suffered copper wire losses from their electrical motors that powered many of the pumps for the water wells.

For the most part, the electric motors were not protected in cages. Anyone who wanted to steal copper could use a bolt cutter to gain access even if chain link cages were maintained.

Not all copper thiefs get away scot free. One time, a guy electrocuted himself to death trying to steal copper wire from one of the company's electric motors. I don't know the details. It happened before I started there in 2004.

Some people...