WASHINGTON, July 7 — $1 billion. That is the figure that matters for the U.S. construction industry from metal theft each year, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Copper theft from construction sites has risen sharply since 2023, and AI data centers have become a new target.
The FBI reports a rise in copper thefts from critical infrastructure. By the numbers, copper prices exceeded $4 per pound in 2024, up from about $3.50 in 2022.
Higher commodity prices are driving the crime wave. The bottom line: thieves are hitting data center construction sites for copper wiring, causing project delays of weeks to months. In one 2023 incident, thieves stole copper wiring valued at $50,000 from a data center site in Loudoun County, Virginia.
That county is a major hub for data center development. The trend is linked directly to the surge in AI data center construction.
As of 2024, IDC counted over 5,000 data centers in the United States. Each new site represents a concentration of valuable copper wiring and cabling, making them attractive targets for organized theft rings.
How copper theft hits construction timelines
The thefts do not just cost money. They stop work. When thieves strip wiring from a partially built data center, contractors must reorder materials and redo electrical work.
Delays stretch from weeks to months. For AI data centers, which are already on tight construction schedules to meet demand for computing power, these interruptions carry significant financial consequences.
The NICB estimate of $1 billion in annual losses covers the broader construction industry. Data centers are a growing share of that total. Copper prices have made the risk-reward calculation simple for thieves: copper that sold for roughly $3.50 per pound in 2022 now fetches over $4 per pound.
Targeting critical infrastructure
The FBI has flagged copper theft from critical infrastructure as a rising concern. Data centers qualify as critical infrastructure. They handle cloud computing, financial transactions, and government data.
A delay in construction can ripple through the economy, though the immediate effect is felt by the companies paying for idle crews and replacement materials. Loudoun County, Virginia, remains a notable example.
The 2023 theft there of $50,000 in copper wiring from a data center site underscores the pattern. Thieves know where the copper is concentrated, and they know construction sites have gaps in security.
What to watch next
The figure that matters going forward is copper prices. If they stay above $4 per pound, the incentive to steal will remain strong. Data center construction shows no sign of slowing, with over 5,000 facilities already operating in the U.S. and more under construction.
Security at construction sites will need to keep pace.
