[thecodont]

Speculation is that it’s the copper wire they’re after.

This is the sort of thing you’d see in a Third World country.

[GOPJ]

The city believes thieves are toppling and stealing the almost century-old lampposts and ripping out the wires from the boxes at the bases. It’s a local chapter of a story happening around the country as valuable metals inside the lampposts are harvested for later resale.

It's NOT happening in Florida... and we don't have smash and grab or 'protesters' stopping traffic. Kent German needs to understand the San Francisco area has "millions of broken windows". Cities that don't enforce small laws are always shocked when the things THEY care about are also destroyed.

[Fungi]

For Pete’s sake, there are cameras everywhere in cities now, yet these guys were never videoed?

[dfwgator]

But did they take the handles?

[Cen-Tejas]

Biden’s democrat and illegal migrants need money! So do blacks and whites since the migrants are soaking up all the “resources” that blacks and whites got used to getting.

The loss of the black vote alone should spell the END for the democrats for a long time. Let us pray!

[Responsibility2nd]

Oakland had lovely spots?  Who knew?

[buwaya]

Lake Merritt is a treasure, scenically. The area around it was built out in the 1920s-30s also. The idea was a gracious, upmarket environment, a sort of Central Park.

It has however suffered from the general squalor of Oakland.

I lived there for a while in the early 90’s, off Grand Ave.

[Bobibutu]

The Bronze Torpedo Tube Port from The USS Maine was stolen decades ago. It had been there much longer than the Lights.

Oakland was wonderful in the 40s & the late 50s started to slide.

My home town.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

"Vandals are targeting Lake Merritt's historic lampposts"

Yufes are targeting Lake Merritt's historic lampposts

[bigfootbob]

What’s wrong with you people? It’s just stuff! /sarc

[Ronaldus Magnus III]

“”valuable metals inside the lampposts are harvested for later resale.””

So......the valuable metals will be bought to make EV charging stations. The same criminals will then ransack the EV chargers, steal back the valuable metals, and sell them again.

The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well.

[DesertRhino]

What’s the big deal? They are insured. Just make a claim like you told burned out businesses in the BLM riots.

[alexander_busek]

The Barbarians are inside the gates.

Regards,

[piasa]

It is a shame in another way... if any state needs lots of lamp posts it is California.