LA Fashion District copper theft cases are raising concerns among Korean American business owners as thieves continue to target air conditioning units, manholes and fire hydrants in the downtown commercial district.
Business owners say the thefts have continued with no clear solution from authorities, fueling frustration among merchants already facing costly repairs and safety concerns.
According to merchants in the area, recent thefts have focused on copper parts inside rooftop air conditioning units, manholes and fire hydrants. Repair costs can reach tens of thousands of dollars, creating a heavy financial burden for property owners and tenants.
One Korean business owner, identified only by the surname Kim, said rooftop AC units at two buildings in the heart of the Fashion District were recently damaged. The affected locations include a building near Crocker Street and 10th Street, as well as another near San Pedro Street and 12th Street.
“The AC units that should have been fixed to the rooftop floor were found ripped apart over the weekend,” Kim said. “It appears the thieves damaged the equipment to steal the copper tubing inside.”
James Lim, owner of SK Cooling and an air conditioning equipment specialist, said damage to commercial AC units has increased sharply in the Fashion District in recent months.
“In many commercial buildings, several outdoor AC units worth up to $50,000 each are installed,” Lim said. “That means repairs alone could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
The financial burden is falling directly on business owners and tenants. Kim said one landlord on San Pedro Street has asked tenants to pay $8,000 each to cover repair costs.
Open manholes have also become a more common sight throughout the Fashion District.
Lee, a Korean merchant who said he has worked in the area for 40 years, said the inside of many open manholes appears empty.
“The reason the manholes are empty is because of copper wire theft,” Lee said.
Fire hydrants are also being targeted. Merchants say caps and parts from hydrants along streets in the Fashion District have increasingly disappeared, as many components are made of copper or brass.
Steve Kang, president of the Los Angeles Board of Public Works, said on May 20 that copper wire theft inside manholes and thefts involving fire hydrants are still on the rise.
“At the same time, enforcement and repair efforts are also being accelerated,” Kang said.
Merchants in the Fashion District say city leaders should not focus only on highly visible tourist areas ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 LA Summer Olympics. They argue that working commercial districts like the Fashion District also need practical public safety measures and theft prevention efforts.
“The Fashion District has long been one of the key commercial areas supporting LA’s economy,” Lee said. “But because it is located near high-crime areas such as Skid Row, it remains exposed to crime risks.”
He urged authorities to strengthen police enforcement to help prevent further copper theft.
In 2024, the Fashion District also saw a string of burglaries affecting 16 businesses, including Korean-owned stores.
