Even the zinc pennies are worth more than one cent these days.
Thieves have even been targeting breweries for their empty aluminum kegs.
Precise figures on request, of course.
Also, aluminum is not zinc. Comparisons between the two are in fact rather stupid.
BTW, if you want to be an aluminum ''thief'' as it were, you are far better off targeting foil manufacturers than breweries.
As far as that goes, you're far better off salvaging gold from old computers (the circuit boards, dontchaknow). All it takes is a file and a bit of patience -- how easy, and no theft involved.