Copper Thieves Knock Memphis Station Off the Air

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, June 12, 2025 | 4:40pm CT

WGSF-AM (Ambiente Radio 1030 AM) in Memphis

Regional Mexican WGSF-AM (Ambiente Radio 1030 AM) in Memphis -- the city's first Hispanic radio outlet -- was forced off the air after thieves stripped its transmission site of copper wiring in a brazen daylight burglary last month. The damage, estimated at $160,000, has left the long-standing station inoperable and its future uncertain.

Station owner Sergio Butron of Butron Media discovered the theft on Sunday, May 18, after the station's signal suddenly went silent. When he inspected the transmitter towers on Jackson Avenue, he found copper cables and components had been ripped from both above and below ground, and several doors had been forced open.

"The thieves broke through the chain-link fence and the locks to access the equipment. They even busted down the doors to the tower 'dog houses,'" Butron said. "It's infuriating. It feels helpless, but above all, it's frustrating to see years of work reduced to nothing."

The station, which has served the Memphis Hispanic community for 30 years, has not been able to resume broadcasting. Butron says repairs are underway and security at the site has been reinforced, including the installation of surveillance cameras monitored by Memphis Police.

Thanks to tips from the public, police were able to track down the suspects. A day after the burglary, witnesses reported seeing masked men dragging copper cables through the neighborhood. On Tuesday, May 20, more tips led officers to a yard just half a mile from the transmitter where three men were allegedly caught burning the stolen copper in a makeshift fire pit.

Butron expressed gratitude for the community's support and quick action, saying, "We passed along the information to MPD, and when neighbors saw the burning, we alerted police again. That led to the arrests."

Despite the setback, Butron remains committed to restoring the station's signal and continuing its legacy.