Copper Wire Theft Hits Dominion Power In Fredericksburg: Police

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — In what has become a black-market boom the past several years, copper wire theft continues to plague localities nationwide , and just such a crime happened last Friday at a Dominion Power Station at 1401 Powhatan Street, according to Fredericksburg Police.

Shortly afterr 5 p.m., a Dominion Power employee reported that an unknown person cut a chain-link fence surrounding the station and stole an undisclosed amount of copper wire.

Police say there are no suspects or witnesses.

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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