Copper Thieves To Blame For Early AM Power Outage: Report

PUYALLUP, WA — Copper thieves are to blame for Tuesday morning's power outage in Puyallup, according to a new report from FOX 13.

Thousands of Puget Sound Energy customers in Puyallup woke up Tuesday morning to find their power had been cut— the outage was so severe, that traffic lights across downtown went out, and 11 local schools even had to start late.

The outage has since been fixed and schools are mostly back on schedule, but the incident has become part of a police investigation: Puget Sound Energy told FOX 13 that the outage was caused by thieves who were likely after a power line's copper wire. According to PSE, the suspects cut down a power pole in an attempt to get at the line, but it fell on an energized line, knocking out the power.

In total, some 17,000 customers lost power because of the incident, PSE reported.

>> Read the full story from FOX 13.