Copper Wire Thieves Busted In Ashburn: Police

ASHBURN, VA — Two people are being held without bond after being found Wednesday with stolen copper wire outside a construction site in the 21000 block of Red Rum Drive, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office. Roger L. Ramsey, 52, of Leesburg, was charged with felony larceny, destruction of property, trespassing after being forbidden to do so and trespassing with intent to damage property. Lori A. Re, 30, of Ashburn, was charged with possession of stolen property and trespassing with intent to damage property.

According to police, the two people were found entering and leaving the construction site after hours. They has insulated copper wires that had been stolen from construction sites. (For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts. Also, like us on Facebook, and if you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Theft of copper wire has become a black-market treasure the past several years, and as CNBC has reported, targets across the U.S. make up a $1 billion business of copper theft.

"There's no question the theft has gotten much, much worse," said Mike Adelizzi, president of the American Supply Association, a nonprofit group representing distributors and suppliers in the plumbing, heating, cooling and industrial pipe industries.

"There was a perception that copper theft slowed down after the recession, and the rise in commodity prices seemed to ease off," he said. "But that's not the case. The theft has only been growing."

On its website, the FBI says copper theft is "threatening U.S. critical infrastructure by targeting electrical substations, cellular towers, telephone land lines, railroads, water wells, construction sites, and vacant homes for lucrative profits."

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