Posted on 08/01/2013 11:00:25 AM PDT by bkopto
Copper is such a hot commodity that thieves are going after the metal anywhere they can find it: an electrical power station in Wichita, Kan., or half a dozen middle-class homes in Morris Township, N.J. Even on a Utah highway construction site, crooks managed to abscond with six miles of copper wire.
Those are just a handful of recent targets across the U.S. in the $1 billion business of copper theft.
SNIP
The five leading states for the thefts are Ohio, Texas, Georgia, California and Illinois, the NICB said.
SNIP
Copper wire was stolen from a substation of Kansas-based Westar Energy in April, knocking out power in south Wichita and causing more than a $150,000 in damage. Westar officials said there have been more than 50 copper thefts at area substations this year, versus four in 2012.
"It's been like an epidemic this spring, and we couldn't keep up with the thefts," said Pat VanSyoc, director of substation maintenance for Westar.
"The damage can be quite extensive," he said. "It costs anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 for us to repair the substations, plus there's the loss of energy for our customers."
VanSyoc said thieves have no idea of the danger —for themselves and the company's repair crews—when they try to steal copper from power outlets.
"They can easily get electrocuted trying to steal copper wiring, and if we have to dig deep to find what they've stolen, it puts our repair people in danger as well," he said.
Police in some states, including West Virginia and Kansas, have reported deaths from suspected copper heists gone wrong, finding electrocuted victims carrying flashlights and bolt cutters next to power lines.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...
“Obama’s America, cannabalizing itself, in so many different ways.”
That is fundamental transformation...isn’t it. He promised!
But, Joey Pluggs told us that the stimulus worked beyond their wildest dreams. This story is fake.
So, wonder why someone has not bought that $1 “home” in Detroit for its copper value? Even if no copper pipes... there must be at least $25 in the copper wire within the walls...
We need more laws.
Maybe ban copper posession without a permit.
Maybe a stop and frisk policy, search pickups and vans.
Every month or so, maybe not quite that often, I see on local TV where some guy has electrocuted himself stealing wire.
You would think it would be easier to just get a job.
Arc flash: doing the job the government is unwilling to do.
Another example of Third World country behavior - part of 0bama's [No] Hope and Change.
Wiring is probably stripped too. And those shiny faucets? Good solid brass with a good price.
When an invading people(Mexicans, Central Americans)take valuable property from the native population it is called a “SACK” not theft. See the “SACK” of Rome by the invading Goths in the 400’s A.D.
Copper has been a serious target of thieves for a long time, 20 solid years at least. Of course the media method is to report on something every 4 to 6 years and pretend it’s new.
Not enough copper to pay the taxes.
Not enough copper to pay the taxes.
I’ve thought about stealing wheel weights off of cars to cast bullets but my momma raised me better. Never thought about stealing copper. Maybe I’m just lazy.
Raise the import tariffs and put Americans back to work.
Raise the import tariffs and put Americans back to work.
Way to stop it is to warn and monitor all facilities that except copper with jail time if they accept stolen copper, especially wire. Manufactured copper has to be given to a facility to melt down. Go after them too.
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