LOUISVILLE, Ky. — There's 1,500 interstate and expressway lights across Louisville that should be shining. Instead, it's pitch black on the highways at night.
It's why Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg announced Tuesday the creation of the Critical Infrastructure Task Force.
"So we can prevent these copper theft crimes, catch the individuals who are responsible for the crimes and prosecute the criminals who are committing these crimes," he said.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) knows the problem keeps coming back no matter what they do.
"Oftentimes we will re-energize lights only to have the copper wire stolen again," KYTC's Inspector General Maryellen Mynear said. "It is very frustrating and we recognize the frustration of the general public."
On the 22nd Street exit in Portland, you can see where thieves previously cut the copper wire at the base of the poles.
KYTC hopes that won't be a problem anymore now that the exit has new solar lights, which have no wires running through them and are out of reach.
But that didn't stop would-be thieves from opening the base of the pole, resident Richard Meadows noticed.
"It definitely feels good that they tried and there's nothing there for them. And the word'll spread, people won't try to get into them," Meadows mused.
He supports the solar switch, finding the lights are just as bright as they were before.
"I'm hoping that nobody tries to shimmy up the pole," he said.
Meadows also agrees with the task force finding more legal avenues for LMPD to build cases against thieves.
"And reduce opportunities for criminals to sell and profit from stolen wire or copper," Col. Ryan Bates added.
An issue that extends beyond streetlights AT&T finds their internet lines cut alongside copper cables.
"It has become an epidemic," Carlos Sanchez, the company's Kentucky president, said.
The company is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to a conviction of a thief stealing or selling the company's wire. KYTC is offering $5,000.
Tips can be called into the anonymous tip line for Metro Police at 574-LMPD.
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