A "significant wire theft" has been discovered at the Delridge Playfield by the Seattle Parks Department and "we still don’t know exactly how much was taken but is estimated at over 1200’," according to Parks officials.

According to a news release Seattle Parks and Recreation electricians estimate repairs will cost between $15,000 and $20,000, and could take up to two weeks to implement.

“This is a significant theft,” said Acting Parks Superintendent Christopher Williams, “and we want to catch the person or people who did it because this creates a needless expense for taxpayers and an unnecessary loss of playing time for park users.”

The copper wiring was accessed from the junction boxes under light poles around the perimeter of the field. After cutting the wires between each junction box, thieves brought in a vehicle (likely a truck), hooked up the wire to the vehicle and pulled out the wiring. Parks staff believe the theft was conceived and executed over several nights, as it appears other junction boxes with wire still inside were prepared for theft.
 
Parks crews are out at the site today securing the junction boxes and assessing the damage.
 
“We are asking anyone who is a neighbor to a Seattle Parks and Recreation ballfield to help us keep eyes on our parks,” said Williams. “We need neighbors’ help to deter criminal activity.” 
 
Parks asks anyone who has information about the theft to call the Seattle Police Department emergency number, 625-5011. To report suspicious behavior in our parks, call the Park Ranger offices at (206) 255-8325.

From the original post:
According to internal emails from Carson Jones, Seattle Parks Facility Maintenance Manager, "The electric shop says that it seems the thieves were planning to come back as they had dismantled more of the system than they were able to take in one session and had broken into other areas preparing to pull even more wire out.

Electrical shop will put together a plan tomorrow to restore operation but this will require research and then a bunch or work to trace and then reinstall this much wire."

Parks has turned the power off to both the north & south playfield lights and vandals got into all the pole handholes and stole the wire in between poles. Security lighting is still on. Police have been contacted. Events have been canceled and relocated until further notice.

Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call 911 and report it.