At $4 per pound, copper has become one of the more popular
recyclables this summer; unfortunately, local criminals have
figured this out, too.
Santa Clara County – At $4 per pound, copper has become one of the more popular recyclables this summer; unfortunately, local criminals have figured this out, too.
Burglaries of construction sites and other locations where copper pipes, wires and fittings can be found are on the rise, with a recent theft at the Pacific Gas & Electric site on West Main Avenue at Crest Avenue.
There have been 10 cases involving theft of copper of some type in the last six months in Morgan Hill.
Morgan Hill Police suspect the burglaries are related to drugs, with the thieves stealing the copper then recycling it for money to buy drugs.
While officers are on the alert for these types of thefts, Morgan Hill police Sgt. David Swing said construction companies should also take preventative measures. Recycling companies should be on the alert as well.
“I think it is incumbent on recycling companies to be aware of what’s going on,” Swing said. “When someone brings in 25 pounds of copper wire, and that’s an easy amount to carry, maybe they need to question why, maybe that’s a clue. Why, if the wire is useable, don’t they return it to where they bought it and get more money for it? They need to see that as something where they say, ‘aha,’ where they realize something is not right.”
Twice during the early morning hours on Aug. 2 or late the night before, copper was stolen from construction sites. Wiring and pipe were taken from a house under construction on Espana Court, and sprinkler fittings and valves were stolen from a construction trailer on Arguello Avenue.
Two nights later, copper wire and pipes were stolen from plumbing and electrician containers at a construction site on Arguello Court.
Although developers may try to keep construction sites tidy because there are occupied homes nearby, putting storage containers in locations that are hidden away instead of out in the open may lead to burglaries, Swing said. The proximity of occupied houses may make thieves more cautious about breaking into locked containers in the open.
Officers on the grave shift have been alerted to the situation, he said, and as a part of their nightly routine, they check the various construction sites.
“Generally speaking, the way we end up catching suspects in a case like this is through a patrol officer driving by at the right time, or on a car stop an officer finds the stolen property in the vehicle,” Swing said. “Our grave shift officers frequently patrol check the construction areas, and we try to create an awareness that another cycle of these crimes is on the upswing.”
But construction sites aren’t the only targets. On the late evening of Aug. 5 or early morning of Aug. 6, copper wire valued at $400 was stolen from the PG&E yard at West Main Avenue and Crest Avenue.
Police do not know if the same suspect or group of suspects is responsible for all of the thefts.
Swing said some construction companies are finding it worth their while to hire nighttime security guards to patrol the sites. One of the guards alerted police on patrol to a suspicious vehicle in the area, which turned out to be a stolen vehicle. It’s not known if the suspect driving the car intended to burglarize the site.
