Another worrying trend that has emerged in Oakland is copper theft where the city has lost thousands of dollars annually to theft of copper wiring from street lights. California is seeing alarmingly high levels of crime. Authorities in the Californian community appear to be “giving up” on the citizens because things have gotten so terrible. 

Oakland has been dealing with a significant increase in both serious and minor crimes. To combat this problem, the city has implemented a unique solution, for instance, swapping the existing street lights with stop signs.

Instead of applying for ordinary street lights, Oakland has adopted the use of stop signs in strategic areas within the city. 

This decision is part of a broader campaign to prevent copper theft as well as to increase security measures.

Oakland saw a decrease in homicides, gun assaults, and rapes in 2024 despite an increase in robberies of more than 1,000 in the first four months of the year. 

Murders declined by 17%, gun-related assaults by 21%, and sexual assaults by 21%. In comparison to the previous year, there have been 33% fewer violent crimes overall in 2024.

This method is supposed to replace street lights with stop signs since thieves are frequently stealing copper wiring from street lights. 

Since there is no copper wiring involved, cases of theft are reduced and therefore costs are reduced making it a cheaper option for the city.

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The cost of installing stop signs is much cheaper compared to the cost of installing new streetlights thus making it easily adaptable by the city. 

The expense for erecting stop signs is believed to be about ten thousand dollars for each intersection while putting up a street light costs from fifty thousand to a hundred thousand dollars.

Besides curbing the aspect of theft, the installation of stop signs also has the aspect of safety since the rate of accidents is bound to reduce. 

By erecting stop signs, motorists would have to slow down and, in some cases, even stop before proceeding through an intersection thus; minimizing the chances of mishaps.

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Although stop signs are not as bright as conventional street lamps, they may offer improved nocturnal visibility. 

The material that has been incorporated on the stop sign can be reflective and thus, drivers can easily maneuver through the different intersections during the night.

While there are a few complaints about poor illumination in some parts of the city, the majority have commended the installation of stop signs within the city. The community has rallied behind this initiative, some even stating that the stop signs should be painted in vibrant colors.

Experts on crime found it difficult to explain why Oakland has had such a sharp rise in crime. They believed the pandemic had a significant effect, though.

Governor Gavin Newsom of California was so concerned about the crime in Oakland that he ordered the deployment of 120 California Highway Patrol troopers to the city and its environs to reduce crime. 

Their goal was to repress all forms of criminal activity, including violent crime, retail theft, and car theft. The governor issued a statement saying, “What’s happening in this beautiful city and the surrounding area is alarming and unacceptable.” Numerous entrepreneurs concurred since they had been requesting assistance for numerous months.

It is worth mentioning that stop signs are not only discouraging copper thieves but also minimizing the crime rate in the city. 

Due to fewer cases of theft and heightened security, people in these estates feel safe and comfortable within their environment.

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The act of installing stop signs can be used as a means of controlling copper theft even though it is not a permanent solution to the problem. 

That is why the city is studying the situation in cooperation with local authorities and experts to create a more extensive plan regarding copper theft.

Oakland has probably come up with the best strategy for dealing with copper theft that other cities that are experiencing similar issues can learn from. 

The actions of the city in placing stop signs show that the city is willing to innovate to solve what most might consider unsolvable issues.

Oakland’s decision to replace street lights with stop signs is another outstanding strategy that is effective in the current network. These measures also contribute to the city’s goal of eradicating the incidence of copper theft and enhancing the safety of people. 

It will be interesting to follow the further development and growth of this pilot program and how this approach can be effectively deployed in other cities as well.

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