Two informational plaques were stolen from a St. Paul park over the weekend and police are asking the public for tips.
The plaques, which contain valuable metals, are 18 inches by 24 inches and were taken from Summit Lookout Park at Summit Avenue and Ramsey Street.
“Not only is there a cost associated with replacing these plaques, it takes away from the public space,” police wrote on social media Tuesday, comparing the case to what happened in the spring on Harriet Island. At that time, a person or people tried to make off with a large, multi-piece metal sculpture. The attempts led the city to take down at least half of the sizable pieces of public art.
Police are asking anyone with information about the plaque thefts to call Sgt. Carlson at 651-266-5572.
Metal thieves have targeted streetlights and other infrastructure in recent years.
St. Paul spent more than $1.2 million last year to repair and replace street lights and traffic signals damaged by copper wire theft, according to the city.
This year, the city spent just over $1 million as of the beginning of September. The City Council approved an additional $500,000 for St. Paul Public Works for this year, which has included hiring a dedicated seasonal, full-time electrician crew to repair damaged street lights.
The problem has skyrocketed in recent years — restoring lighting from wire theft cost the city $98,588 in 2019, $104,595 in 2020, $294,494 in 2021 and $453,172 in 2022, including labor, materials and equipment.
St. Paul has “got really creative with strategies and techniques, some that are showing successes,” said Lisa Hiebert, Public Works spokesperson. She didn’t provide details for security reasons because, in the past, thieves have found a way around measures the city has taken.
But a downside has been thieves moving their attention to areas that weren’t previously targeted for wire theft, in more residential areas, Hiebert said.
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