Copper Caper On The Loose In Newton?

NEWTON, MA — Over the past several weeks there's been an uptick in the number of times police have gotten calls related to copper theft.

Between February 16 and March 2 at least seven calls came into police reporting copper wiring, or downspouts were stripped and stolen from buildings around the city, according to incomplete police data.

Patch asked for the total number of reports but because of a system error, police said they could only estimate noting the number appeared to be between six and seven reports.

Neighboring Needham Police recently experienced some reports of missing copper, too.

Copper is one of the more common types of metal to steal. Why? Folks will turn around and sell it for cash at scrap yards or metal yards. The going price for copper wire right now is 2.38/LB.

So far this year in the state, 122 thefts have been reported to ScrapTheftAlert.com, a tool for law enforcement that allows individuals to alert the scrap industry of significant thefts of materials. The Department of Energy estimates that copper theft is responsible for $1 billion worth of damage every single year.

It could be worse, the Associated Press reported that police in Connecticut are investigating the theft of 2 ½ tons of copper cable worth $4,500 from a former industrial site, causing about $30,000 in damage to the building.

On Feb. 16 someone looked in on a vacant property at 293 Needham Street only to find the main electric panels had been completely stripped of wiring and brass fittings. Copper piping from various parts of the building were also taken.

A couple days later on Feb. 21 someone from the 200 block of Elliot Street reported someone stole the copper down spouts from side of the buildings. In total, 16 down spouts ranging in lengths from 15 feet to 30 feet were ripped from the sides of the building.

On February 23, someone at the Mount Alvernia High School, on Centre Street reported something similar:
nine of the 10 copper rain spouts on their building had been stolen sometime in the past 24 to 48 hours.

On Feb. 27, The Jackson Homestead Museum on Washington Street reported an employee noticed all seven of the copper down spouts were taken.

On March 1 the spree continued, according to police. This time at a church on Walnut Street, which reported someone stole three copper downspouts a couple of weeks ago - which they reported to the police. When the person got to the church that day he noticed four more were taken.

On March 2, police may have gotten a lead: Someone at the Longwood Cricket club noticed that seven copper drain pipes and 10 elbows from around their building were missing and checked their surveillance video. It turned out that on February 19 two people came and dismantled them.

Newton Police declined to comment on whether they had any persons of interest or if there was a description of the people they believed may have been taking the copper in the case. However, police did say the case was still under investigation.

Previously: Copper Wire Theft, Plow Crash: Needham Police Log

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-Photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch