Thief Zapped to Death While Trying to Steal Copper Wiring, Knocking Out Power to Thousands

A man believed to be homeless was killed in a violent electrical blast while attempting to steal copper wiring from a California demolition site, plunging thousands of residents into darkness for hours.

Pomona police say the incident happened Sunday afternoon inside a vacant strip mall scheduled for demolition. Witnesses reported hearing a thunderous boom around 2 p.m. Moments later, power dropped across nearly 2,500 homes.

“It sounded like a bomb went off,” said longtime Pomona resident Carla Ruiz. “The whole street shook, and then everything just went black.”

Investigators believe the explosion came from a transformer that blew when the thief cut into energized underground wiring. Above-ground power lines had been disconnected for the demolition, but the buried electrical systems were still live.

When neighbors rushed toward the smoke, they found stunned residents yelling for help.

“One woman was screaming, ‘Help us!’ and I just froze,” witness Mykil Walker told local reporters. “I didn’t know what I was walking into. It was chaos.”

Construction workers say the man was not alone. Several transients had been living inside the condemned plaza for weeks, repeatedly sneaking into fenced-off work zones in search of copper—one of the most frequently stolen materials on California construction sites.

“We’ve warned them over and over,” said foreman Frederico Velarde. “We tell them the wires are live. We tell them it’s deadly. But they keep coming back. Copper is worth money, and they’re willing to risk their lives for it.”

Police say the victim died instantly.

Copper theft has exploded across Los Angeles County, overwhelming utilities and draining city resources. The metal is easy to strip, easy to resell, and valuable enough that thieves routinely risk electrocution.

“It’s become a daily battle,” said retired LAPD officer Mark Sandoval, who now consults for private security firms. “People don’t understand how dangerous this is. One wrong cut and it’s over. No second chances.”

The city’s infrastructure has taken a beating.

Just last year, thieves ripped out seven miles of copper wiring from the iconic Sixth Street Bridge in downtown Los Angeles. The stolen material was worth only about $11,000 on the black market. Repairs are expected to cost taxpayers a staggering $2.5 million.

“This isn’t petty theft,” Sandoval warned. “It’s sabotage. And it puts entire neighborhoods at risk.”

Power was eventually restored to Pomona residents after hours of emergency repairs. The identity of the man killed has not yet been released.

Authorities say the case reflects a dangerous trend—one that shows no signs of slowing.

As Velarde put it, “People think copper is easy money. They don’t realize they’re playing with death.”