Kentucky transportation officials say thieves are stealing copper wires from interstate highway lighting in the Lexington area faster than crews can replace it.

With copper prices high, thefts of the metal are common.

Transportation Department spokesman David Thacker said someone removed 75 connectors at the Kentucky Horse Park, but other stretches of Interstate 75 and Interstate 64 have gone dark recently, too.

Thacker asks drivers to be alert for anyone not in a work uniform seen tinkering with light poles along the highways