TL;DR: Three Milwaukee men have been charged over a spree of copper wire thefts from city streetlights that left neighbourhoods dark and taxpayers with an $800,000 bill for materials alone, officials announced Oct. 26.
Charges have been filed against three Milwaukee men in connection with thefts of copper wire from Milwaukee streetlights, city and law enforcement officials announced on Oct. 26, 2026, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
Prosecutors charged Mario Gill, 55; Alvin Harris, 51; and Daryll Horton, 57, all of Milwaukee, with a series of thefts dating back to August. The charges are allegations, and the men are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Thieves have been escalating the tactics they use to access and remove copper from streetlights, according to city officials. They then sell the wire to recyclers, leaving neighbourhoods in the dark and taxpayers with an $800,000 bill for materials alone. There have been about 250 thefts in the last two years.
The three men and the charges
Gill has been charged with two felonies: criminal damage to public utility property and theft of property valued between $2,500 and $5,000, both as party to the crime. Harris is charged with six felonies, including fleeing police, conspiracy counts, and possession with intent to deliver cocaine. Horton is charged with three felony counts of criminal damage to public utility property and three misdemeanour counts of bail jumping.
Gill told police he had stolen streetlight wire at least 16 other times, according to the criminal complaint. He identified Harris as the Green Goblin, a name Gill said they use because of Harris’s truck and because he is vicious, the complaint states. Harris denied stealing wire on Oct. 13, saying he only closed an electrical box, though he acknowledged buying copper wire from the other two men to sell to scrapyards.
Three thefts described in the complaint
On Oct. 13, in the area of North Teutonia Avenue and West Nash Street, police saw several people tampering with a box that houses wiring for streetlights. Gill was identified as the driver of a vehicle police had seen pulling more than 100 feet of wire, and police found wire cutters, a wrench, a screwdriver and a metal pipe on him. Public works employees determined about 1,000 feet of wire valued at $2,865 had been taken.
On Oct. 1, police were called to the 3200 block of North Teutonia Avenue for a report of a person stealing copper wire. Harris was identified as the driver, and Horton was identified as a person tampering with a junction box ground cover. About 1,000 feet of copper wire valued at about $4,150 had been taken, an electrician found. On Oct. 10, Horton was seen walking with a large amount of wire on his shoulder, about 750 feet valued at about $3,100, and he denied stealing it, saying he found it in a cemetery, though surveillance video showed him pulling it from the ground, the complaint states.
Why streetlight theft is not a victimless crime
Milwaukee police Assistant Chief Paul Lough said the men were stealing thousands of dollars worth of property in a way that causes taxpayers to pay and creates an unsafe environment for citizens. Mayor Cavalier Johnson said streetlights are an important element of public safety, and District Attorney Kent Lovern said the nonviolent crime nevertheless has a reverberating impact on thousands of people in neighbourhoods.
When streetlights go dark, residents feel less safe at night, and the city must spend money and staff time on repairs. The $800,000 figure covers materials alone.
What the city is doing next
Lough said he expected the three arrests to make a huge dent in the thefts, though police are still investigating how many other incidents the men might be involved in and how many other people might have taken part, including anyone who purchased the wire. Public works tallied 75 thefts in August, 49 in September and 22 in October, a decrease officials attributed to coordination between public works and police in addition to the arrests.
On Oct. 21, a council committee unanimously recommended three measures: an ordinance prohibiting vandalism or theft of copper cables, with fines of $1,000 to $5,000 per violation for damage under $2,500; direction for public works to collaborate with police on prevention; and a program to reward people who provide information related to streetlight wire thefts. The proposals are expected to be taken up at the council’s next meeting on Nov. 4.
Featured image: representative scene photo, not a photo of the people or the exact location in this case. Image source: New York Governor's Office crime scene photo
Sources: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was charged in Milwaukee?
Mario Gill, 55; Alvin Harris, 51; and Daryll Horton, 57, all of Milwaukee.
What are they charged with?
Gill: two felonies, criminal damage to public utility property and theft of $2,500-$5,000 property. Harris: six felonies including fleeing police, conspiracy and cocaine possession with intent to deliver. Horton: three felony criminal damage counts and three misdemeanour bail jumping counts.
Who is the ‘Green Goblin’?
Alvin Harris, identified by Gill as the Green Goblin because of his truck, according to the criminal complaint.
How much has the theft spree cost?
Taxpayers have an $800,000 bill for materials alone, with about 250 thefts in the last two years, city officials said.
How much wire was taken in the described thefts?
About 1,000 feet valued at $2,865 on Oct. 13, about 1,000 feet valued at about $4,150 on Oct. 1, and about 750 feet valued at about $3,100 on Oct. 10.
Are police still investigating?
Yes. Police are investigating how many other incidents the men might be involved in and whether other people, including wire buyers, took part.
What is the city proposing?
A copper theft ordinance with $1,000-$5,000 fines, closer public works-police collaboration, and a reward program for information, to be considered Nov. 4.
