LAS VEGAS — Good Pie, a small business in the Las Vegas Arts District, became the latest victim of copper wire theft, leading to significant financial losses and temporary closure.
On Tuesday, employees arrived at Good Pie to find the air conditioning system offline and the walk-in fridge, where pizza dough is stored, dangerously warm. Upon investigation, they discovered that copper wires had been stolen from the HVAC compressor, rendering the cooling systems inoperable.
The restaurant had to close its doors for several hours, causing all perishable food items to spoil. Though they managed to reopen for dinner service, the owner, Vincent Rotolo, estimates the total loss to be in the tens of thousands of dollars.
Rotolo expressed his frustration, saying, “It’s also the emotional factor, like we’ve been violated. That hurts. The mental health impact of this far outweighs the financial impact of this. We care about our business. Why are we allowing this to happen? We need to take our community back!”
Good Pie is not alone in facing this issue. In April, Cork and Thorn, a nearby wine bar, experienced a similar copper theft.
Despite the thief only managing to steal a few pieces of metal, the incident has left a lasting impact on the community. Rotolo remains determined, stating, “It hurts, but our community is stronger than that. We are not going to let fear overpower love. Good Pie is about sharing love, and this community built this brand. The community built Good Pie, and the community is going to be the one to help us survive.”
In response to the increasing number of copper thefts, the Las Vegas City Council is scheduled to discuss a new ordinance on Wednesday. If approved, the ordinance would require individuals selling metal wiring to provide proof that it was legally acquired, aiming to curb the thefts plaguing local businesses.