Brass Plaques Stolen Near La Loma Road Bridge

Brass plaques were stolen in the area of the John K. Van De Kamp Bridge, according to a City official. The bridge supports La Loma Road over the Arroyo  Seco.

Police and Public Works personnel responded Wednesday morning.

One plaque contains a dedication to John Van de Kamp in 2017 when the bridge was renamed in honor of Van de Kamp. The plaque also contains the names of the City Councilmembers at the time.

Van de Kamp was a Pasadena resident who was a politician and lawyer who served as Los Angeles County District Attorney from 1975 until 1981, and then as the 28th Attorney General of California from 1983 until 1991.

The second stolen plaque describes the bridge.

“It’s unfortunate we’re seeing a new trend in thieves looking to capitalize on rising metal prices and now stealing bronze plaques,” said Public Information Officer Lisa Dederian. “While it’s troubling they can remove a plaque, you can never remove the intent and history behind the plaques. Our Police Department and Public Works personnel did respond right away and a report has been taken.”

Brass is currently going for as high as $2.50 a pound and copper prices have soared to nearly $3.50 a pound.

Lt. Edgar Sanchez said the plaques are valued at $500 each.

Municipalities across the country are combatting brass and copper thefts.

A bronze plaque at Bruce’s Beach, a historic Manhattan Beach park, was reported stolen on Monday. That plaque details the cultural significance of the site.

Following the Pasadena City Council’s announcement of a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for copper wire thefts, only one such incident has been reported.

The reward, which mirrors a reward by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, was announced shortly after an $8,000 theft at a Pasadena Public Works substation.

Tony Olmos, Pasadena’s Public Works Director, stated that there have been nearly 50 incidents since January 2023, with 33 occurring since November. These thefts have impacted 360 streetlights and two traffic signals, amounting to a total cost of $50,000 in the past year.

Last week, approximately 300 feet of copper wire was stolen, resulting in a blackout affecting six streetlights at the intersection of Walnut Street and Sierra Madre Villa Avenue, Pasadena Police Lieutenant Matt Campeau reported. Public Works crews found two open pull boxes stripped of copper.

The Pasadena Police Department continues its investigation into these thefts.