(COLORADO SPRINGS)—On Tuesday, May 20, Colorado Springs Utilities (Springs Utilities) told FOX21 News that it is increasing street light inspections after seeing an increase in wire theft across the city.

On Tuesday, May 13, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and law enforcement discovered a homeless camp tapping a pole for electricity under a bridge north of the Woodmen Road exit on I-25. The electricity was used to power lights, televisions, and stereo equipment.

Springs Utilities manages the 35,000 street lights across the city and said it normally inspects them quarterly, meaning each one gets checked for function four times each year.

However, because of an increase in wire theft off of streetlights on bridges, city parks, and along the I-25 corridor, inspections have been increased to twice a week over the past month.