Copper Thieves Target Windmills Near Palm Springs

A wind farm outside of Palm Springs, Calif., on May 26, 2018. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

Thieves looking to cash in on high copper prices are causing millions of dollars in damage to the iconic windmills along Highway 10 near Palm Springs.

Fred Noble, founder of WinTec Energy, told The Epoch Times copper thieves will destroy a $30,000 windmill to get $500 worth of copper.

“It’s been going on for years, but it’s gotten really bad lately,” Noble said.

Giant wind turbines near the Interstate 10 freeway are powered by strong prevailing winds in Palm Springs, Calif., on May 13, 2008. David McNew/Getty Images

The massive windmills built on hills and valleys along both sides of the highway can hold up to $2,500 in copper, he said.

“They’ve been going after some of the big, brand-new windmills,” Noble said. “They’re very expensive and they damage those machines.”

Last month, Riverside County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a 38-year-old man from the nearby town of Desert Hot Springs after one windmill owner reported a theft of 900 feet of stolen cable. The suspect was tracked to his home where deputies found several pieces of cut wire, according to Sgt. Michael Shacklett. The man pleaded guilty two days after his arrest and was sentenced to two years in county jail.

In February, deputies patrolling an area near the windmill farms arrested a 52-year-old Whitewater man running from a stolen off-road vehicle. Deputies found 200 feet of stolen copper wire nearby.

The Palm Springs Police Department is also working with windmill owners in the area, helping them identify ways they can beef up security by adding surveillance cameras and fencing, Lt. Gustavo Araiza told The Epoch Times.

The department has encouraged windmill operators to communicate with each other, share information, and work collaboratively. Tracking the suspects can be difficult, though, Araiza said.

“One of the challenging things is that it’s hard to pin it on the person who stole it,” Araiza said.

Many times, the thief will be homeless or living in a “crash pad” house with several other people who also have histories of criminal behavior, he said. And, much like catalytic converter theft rings, windmill thefts have developed into criminal enterprises involving many individuals, according to Araiza.

“Until there is some legislation that sets some rules for recycling centers, I don’t know when this will subside,” Araiza said.

Giant wind turbines near the Interstate 10 freeway are powered by strong prevailing winds near Palm Springs, Calif., on May 13, 2008. David McNew/Getty Images

The price of copper has increased worldwide this year as many regions transition to renewable energy. The metal is key to green energy because it conducts energy more efficiently and is resistant to corrosion. It also helps reduce carbon dioxide emissions and lowers the amount of energy needed to produce electricity.

In wind turbines, copper is used in generators, power transformers, gear boxes, and tower cables. A typical wind farm uses about 7,766 pounds of copper per megawatt produced, according to the Copper Development Association.

Rising copper prices this year and depleted stocks worldwide drove commodity trader Trafigura to forecast prices will rise to a new record high in the next 12 months.

“I would highlight copper as the most critical metal globally given the shortage in the market,” Trafigura’s Kostas Bintas said last month at a global commodities summit.