In Arizona ---> Copper is gold for Southeast Valley thieves
Arizona Coin Collector
Copper ended the week trading at $3.76 a pound.
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Copper is gold for Southeast Valley thieves
by Nathan Gonzalez
Nov. 26, 2010 06:09 AM
The Arizona Republic
A watchful apartment dweller noticed the suspicious
vehicle and called Mesa police, who began watching
the car.
About 11 p.m. Nov. 4, Mesa street crimes detectives
watched as a Nissan Maxima parked near a freeway
wall on U.S. 60 near Rural Road. Moments later, the
freeway lights and cameras between Rural Road and
Mill Avenue went dark.
When police arrested Shane A. Thompson and John
Joseph Bagdonas near U.S. 60 and Val Vista Drive,
they discovered a "large quantity" of copper wire
in the trunk, along with wire-cutting tools, court
documents state. The Arizona Department of
Transportation placed the damage at $4,500.
Although police were able to arrest Thompson and
Bagdonas, who are awaiting trial in Maricopa
County Superior Court, officials say it's difficult
to build cases against copper thieves. But as
officials grapple with the problem, incidents of
copper theft across the Southeast Valley are
skyrocketing and have cost cities nearly $1
million.
Thieves sell the stolen metal to scrap yards and
recycling centers that pay anywhere from 30 cents
to $1.62 per pound, depending on the gauge of the
wire.
"It's very frustrating for us because we know that
some of this wire showing up at recycling centers
has probably been stolen, but can we prove it? No,"
said Mesa Assistant Police Chief Mike Denney. "What
people need to understand is that . . . ultimately
the citizens are the ones that are going to have
to pay for this."
Copper thieves have cost Mesa's Parks and Recreation
Department up to $100,000 this year and have hit
seven parks within the past two months. The city's
Transportation Department has lost $469,000 since
January 2009.
"Electricians are spending every minute of the day
repairing these lights," said Mike Holste, assistant
director of recreation operations for the Parks and
Recreation Department. "As soon as our crews finish
repairing one location, they move on to another."
And the problem is not confined to Mesa.
In Gilbert, thieves have cost the town about $50,000
over the past two years, said Beth Lucas, a town
spokeswoman.
"We are trying to be really proactive about it and
have even started to leave the lights on at some
of our parks," she said. "We are also working on a
plan that includes installing surveillance cameras,
especially aimed at property that could be targeted."
Copper wire thieves have hit sections of the popular
Paseo Trail in Chandler, but the damage hasn't been
as extensive as in other East Valley communities,
said Kris Kircher, Chandler park and facilities
maintenance manager.
"This year, we're out about $20,000," he said, noting
that thefts in an 18-month span beginning in 2007
cost the city about $400,000. "This stuff is very
expensive to replace."
Three weeks ago, wiring was taken from Shawnee Dog
Park and on Monday, crews were investigating whether
Dobson and Harmony Hallows parks were the latest hit.
"We are trying to be proactive. We do have some
theft-detection measures in place," Kircher said. He
declined to say what those measures were but said his
department is working closely with local police.
Within the past two months in Mesa, fields at Red
Bird Elementary, Powell Junior High, Shepherd Junior
High and Red Mountain High schools all have been hit.
Most recently, thieves hit soccer complexes at Quail
Run and Red Mountain parks, which forced the
cancellation of night practices and games for more
than 1,300 children the weekend of Nov. 12.
Holste said Mesa parks crews tried placing metal
straps over wire boxes, but the thieves broke them.
Crews tried burying the boxes, but thieves came with
metal detectors and dug them up. Crews even tried
encapsulating the boxes under a cement box, but
again the thieves dug them up.
"Any preventative measure we can come up with, they
are finding ways to get into the boxes," Holste said.
Although preventing the thefts is an ongoing issue,
identifying and arresting suspects is proving even
more difficult for police, Denney said. Copper
wiring lacks a serial number to match to a particular
crime scene, so even if a suspect is caught, it
could be difficult to prove it's, in fact, stolen.
"We almost have to catch them in the act," Denney
said. "If we catch them in a park, then we'll have
a good case."
Officials throughout the Southeast Valley say the
most effective way to combat the problem is by the
public calling police when they see suspicious
vehicles or activity at city parks.
"You see something that doesn't look right? Call,"
Denney said.
...
Bremick
"Arizona Coin Collector" <nos...@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:9N-dnXoRTsjKwm3R...@earthlink.com...
> Hello
>
> Copper ended the week trading at $3.76 a pound.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------
I remember in 1959 when copper was selling at .35 a pound and enterprising
people were stealing it even then. I later found out that my boss at the
bait shop that summer was breaking into a local scrapyard at night, stealing
copper, and selling it back to them the next day. Glad I didn't stay there
long. I don't remember how much earthworms were selling for per pound, but
there must have been a better money opportunity there.
Peter
> "Arizona Coin Collector" <nos...@nospam.com> wrote in messagenews:9N-dnXoRTsjKwm3R...@earthlink.com...
As you note, it is not new. It is also not unique to the USA. I've
seen it in Europe, as well.
Jerry Dennis
I find it somewhat odd that copper pipe isn't mentioned in the
article. A bank repossessed house in my area was broken into about a
year ago, and the thieves ripped out all the wire and pipe they
could. They didn't even turn the water off. The only way anyone knew
something was up was the water literally pouring out the basement door
(the door was at ground level in the backyard).
Jerry