Just when it seemed thieves couldn't be more brazen, Los Angeles County has experienced a rash of fire hydrant thefts in residential neighborhoods in the last two years—with an alarming spike in 2024. Authorities say criminals are selling the hydrants for scrap.
Since November 2022, thieves have stolen a total of 334 hydrants in a county that is home to over 10 million people and is larger than the state of Delaware. However, 274 of those thefts—over 80 percent—occurred within the first five months of 2024, according to the Golden State Water Company (GSWC), the utility that owns the hydrants.
"The biggest aspect for us has been the public safety issue," said Kate Nutting, General Manager for GSWC's Southwest District. "It's been a huge concern, especially when thefts started ramping up. We want to make sure that our customers are protected in the case of a fire."
Using Skill and Brute Force
GSWC says most thieves have become very sophisticated and stealthy. In order to prevent a gush of water that will attract attention, criminals manage to shut off water to the hydrant by accessing a special valve located in the street. Only then will they unbolt the hydrant from its base, or "spool," and haul it off.
However, lesser-skilled criminals have resorted to brute force, pushing hydrants over with vehicles and making no attempt to turn off the water, partially flooding city streets. In some cases, thieves have removed multiple hydrants from the same neighborhood in a single night.
"One of our customers woke up and noticed that the fire hydrant in front of her house was gone and that the one down the street was gone, and then the one around the corner. They were all taken in one night," said Nutting. "When you remove a bunch of hydrants, that neighborhood could be vulnerable in case of a fire."
Hot Items on Black Market
Nutting explained that the hydrants are made of either brass or cast iron and weigh approximately 100 pounds. Estimates range regarding the amounts criminals can get for a stolen hydrant at a scrap yard, but GSWC believes a brass hydrant can fetch as much as $400 on the black market.
Replacing a hydrant with new safety features costs GSWC as much as $4,500. Thus far, the LA County fire hydrant thefts have resulted in losses of $1.2 million and have impacted over 36,000 customers. GSWC leaders rely on customers to alert them when a theft has occurred. Nutting said their goal is to replace a hydrant as quickly as possible.
"We might not be able to replace them all in one day, but our goal is to get out there immediately once we get notification and replace it," said Nutting. "We've been sending messages to our customers and the affected areas using emails and texts, saying, 'If you see a missing hydrant, please call us. If you see one being stolen, in the process, call the police.' And it actually has been working. Our customers have been a good ally for us."
Law Enforcement Committed
GSWC files a report for each theft with the Los Angeles Police or LA County Sheriff's office, depending on the location. The company also has regular meetings with law enforcement from both jurisdictions who are monitoring the situation. In addition, GSWC has warned scrap yards that receiving stolen fire hydrants is illegal. Increased community awareness and coordinated efforts with law enforcement are starting to make a difference. Customers are reporting crimes, and arrests are on the rise.
"These incidents significantly threaten public safety and disrupt essential emergency services," the LA County Sheriff's Department said in a statement. "Our investigators are working diligently to identify and apprehend those responsible for the thefts. Fire hydrants play a crucial role in ensuring effective fire response and public safety, and their removal can have serious consequences."
Installing Deterrents
The rise in thefts has forced GSWC not only to increase its supply of hydrants, but also install safety devices to act as deterrents. Nutting said putting trackers on the hydrants has largely been ineffective, as thieves quickly find and discard them. GSWC has also tried covering the shut-off valves with sand to make access harder.
However, the primary deterrent is a metal guard that fits over the hydrant's base like a collar, making the bolts inaccessible. Barney Bishop, president of California-based P & M Manufacturing, has been making hydrant guards for over 15 years and says he has definitely seen an uptick in sales of late.
"We're selling quite a few units," said Bishop. "It's a deterrent that discourages the thieves when they can just go a block away and take one that isn't protected."
Bishop says the water supplied to hydrants is under extremely high pressure and can cause water to shoot 30 feet in the air. Anyone standing too close can get seriously injured. The guard acts not only as a deterrent, but also as a safety measure.
"Theoretically someone could put a chain on a hydrant with a fire hydrant guard and with enough brute force bust it off," said Bishop. "But if they come across this hydrant with a lock on it they might just not bother with it and move on."
Community Effort
Nutting says in addition to the metal fire hydrant guards, GSWC and police benefit greatly from surveillance footage captured by residents' private security cameras. The hydrants are located on public property, so GSWC can’t install its own security systems even if it were feasible. As a result, theft deterrence and community education is the current plan of action.
"We've gotten more awareness from law enforcement, more awareness from politicians in the area, and I feel like it's been pretty well covered to get the message out,” said Nutting. “There's a monetary aspect to it when we have to replace all these fire hydrants. There are soft costs associated with the cost of service, but, really, the biggest thing is public safety."
