Hey Worf, not sure if the downturn in the economy has as much to do with the copper thieving as the price of copper tripling in the past 10 years has...
That's some serious coin available quick and easy to the masses of criminals and desperate poor folk that exist in society at any level of prosperity.

I never thougth they'd be stealing enough ground wires to make it unsafe. Geez. Wonder how many dumb criminals have turned into fried chicken trying to make a quick buck?