sea-tac airport
Sea-Tac airport was targeted by copper wire thieves. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Sea-Tac Airport targeted by copper wire thieves

BY Tim Haeck  on February 20, 2013 @ 10:42 am (Updated: 1:15 pm - 2/20/13 )

Thieves stole 1,000 feet of copper wire, disabling part of a lighting system at Sea-Tac Airport that helps pilots land in bad weather.

The copper wire is linked to the approach light system for Runway 34L and is located at the south end of the airport.

"The system is protected by two layers of fencing, an inner fence and an outer fence, and the thieves cut through both of those," said Ian Gregor, spokesman for the FAA in Wash., D.C. "It's pretty brazen and it's, when you think about it, pretty unconscionable too."

Sea-Tac Airport has three runways and the theft is not expected to impact flight operations.

"All three Sea-Tac runways have instrument landing systems which allow planes to land in low visibility conditions so losing the approach light to one system isn't going to have an air traffic impact in the short term," Gregor explained.

Repair and replacement work is underway and should be complete by next week.

Tim Haeck, KIRO Radio Reporter
Tim Haeck is a news reporter with KIRO Radio. While Tim is one of our go-to, no-nonsense reporters, he also has a sensationally dry sense of humor and it will surprise some to learn he is a weekend warrior.
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Comments (8)


  • Add A Comment

  • Cbrew wrote...
    So.. let me get this straight....
    February 20, 2013 2:28 pm
    TSA will stripsearch you if you try to smuggle a bottle of Pert Plus onto a plane but they can't stop a few tweakers from stealing 1000 ft of copper wire from the airport? Awesome!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Cbrew
    February 20, 2013 9:23 pm
    Hilarious! Excellent point!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cash wrote...
    If we did not allow
    February 20, 2013 7:53 pm
    A market for stolen property like this than it would not happen. Anyone purchasing the stolen goods should come with heavy prison time for incidents like this as with any front for trafficking stolen goods.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • R6Limited wrote...
    Cash got it right
    February 20, 2013 8:43 pm
    If the recyclers weren't buying this stuff there would be no incentive to steal it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Burn_Notice wrote...
    That is an insane argument
    February 20, 2013 10:05 pm
    Using that logic, then business that buy and sell gold should be closed as well. Every precious or semi-precious metal that has any value will be bought, sold and traded; it has been true since time began and copper is no different. YOu just need to come up with a better system of regulating it. The government loves to get its hands when the "regulation" dinner bell sounds.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Pressman wrote...
    This is too easy to solve...
    February 20, 2013 10:21 pm
    The thieves work for the TSA (Theft Sanctioning Agency)- everything else at the airport is stolen by them, why not copper wire too?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    How about catching them in the act of ripping off wire.
    February 21, 2013 12:12 am
    Set up construction site traps using a spools of wire for bait .
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }