Milwaukee police make arrests related to copper wire theft

Milwaukee city leaders are holding a news conference related to arrests and charges in the theft of copper wire from the city's streetlight circuit system.

The theft has resulted in major streetlight outages across the city.


Authorities arrested a 51-year-old man in connection with a series of copper wire thefts that disrupted city streetlights across Milwaukee, according to a newly filed court document.

In September 2026, local police began investigating multiple thefts targeting public works infrastructure. Thieves were breaking into underground junction boxes and streetlight bases to strip copper wiring, leaving entire blocks in the dark.

On Sept. 9, an officer responded to a reported theft in progress at 5426 N. 66th St. The officer found multiple open and damaged junction boxes along North 66th Street and West Birch Avenue, leaving dozens of streetlights without power.

Shortly after, the officer spotted the suspect, Alvin Clifton Harris, fleeing the scene in a distinct blue SUV with a broken windshield. Harris allegedly ignored police signals, leading them on a brief pursuit that ended at 5055 N. 64th St. before he escaped.

Caught on camera

The thefts continued into October. On Oct. 1, a local building owner at 3246 N. Teutonia Ave. captured surveillance video of Harris and an accomplice tampering with an underground electrical vault. A city electrician assessed four tampered vaults between the 3100 and 3300 blocks of North Teutonia Avenue, estimating that 1,000 feet of copper wire, valued at over $4,000, was taken. The damage caused multi-day service disruptions.

In mid-October, authorities conducting surveillance near North Teutonia Avenue and West Nash Street watched Harris and other individuals pull an estimated 100 to 150 feet of streetlight wiring from a ground vault at 3739 N. Teutonia Ave. The group used a car to tow the heavy cable down an alley in the 3700 block between North 14th and North 15th streets.

When police intervened and stopped the vehicle behind 3732 N. 15th St., Harris fled on f
#wisn   #crimewatchmilwaukee