Shrewsbury Police Warn of Copper Thieves

In a statement released Friday, Shrewsbury Police Chief Jeffery Keller asked residents to be on the lookout for copper piping theives that have been active in the city.

"Over the last couple of months throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area there has been a significant increase in the theft of copper material from vacant buildings, unoccupied dwellings as well as occupied residences," Keller wrote. "The thieves typically target such locations to steal copper piping, guttering, wiring, etc. They then sell the copper material to area scrap yards."

Keller said Shrewsbury has had two such incidents in the past week. The first occurred in the 7500 block of Suffolk Avenue and was reported on Jan. 28. The second occurred during the day on Feb. 2, just a block away in the 7600 block of Suffolk Avenue.

In each instance, the thieves removed copper downspouts from a dwelling.

At 11:30 a.m. on the day of the second incident, a resident observed a suspicious dark maroon automobile parked facing the wrong direction in front of a residence in the 7600 block of Suffolk Avenue. A man was sitting inside the automobile. The resident stated she did not recognize the vehicle as belonging in the area. Police are not positive that this vehicle was involved in the theft.

Keller said the Shrewsbury Police Department is working with the authorities from other jurisdictions in an effort to identify and apprehend the copper thieves. The police department has also increased its patrols in the area.

Residents can report any suspicious activity to the police department by calling the dispatch center at 314.645.3000.