Valley copper thieves find new targets in backyards
Reported by:
Associated Press
Last Update: 1/11/2009 10:31 am
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Copper thieves have found a new way to get their hands on the metal -- pool pumps. Police say thieves stole 80 pumps across the Phoenix metro area between April 29 and Dec. 5. The loss is estimated at $74,000. Tempe police spokeswoman Katie McDevitt says this is the newest trend among thieves looking for copper. They've also taken copper from street lighting, abandoned homes and construction sites. Copper thefts have become rampant in recent years because of industrial growth in China that sent prices soaring. The metal was valued at $1.08 per pound in January 2004. It was going for $3.40 a pound in August, although it has now dropped to $1.54 per pound for the highest grade. Mesa police Detective Steve Berry says most copper theft is tied to drug addiction.
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