Copper thefts up as scrap prices rise

Copper theft occurs in spurts in Upshur County, but is not as much of a problem as it is in some areas, said Sheriff Anthony Betterton.

He said the last major theft in Upshur County was a house under construction on FM 2685, which was hit over a weekend.

“Thefts here are scattered,” he said. “It’s not as bad as where there’s lots of oil fields,” he said.

Scrap copper brings $3 to $4 a pound, making it a tempting target for thieves. Some have even been electrocuted when they tried stealing live electrical wiring.

Upshur Rural Electric Cooperative and SWEPCO, the power companies serving Upshur County, use very little copper wire, having upgraded their systems over the years.

The prevalence of copper thefts in some areas, however, has caused implementation of new technologies to thwart theives. Wood County Electric Cooperative, based in Quitman, has begun using microdots. WCEC general manager and CEO Debbie Robinson said that the microdot system cost them about $30,000.

Microdots encode information on substances they are applied to. The information can be read using an ultraviolent black light.

In addition to electrical companies, copper thieves hit homes, churches, schools, oil field equipment, railroads and other organizations for what has become a precious metal.

A July 15, 2006, Associated Press article from Tacoma, Wash., said that copper theft is often linked to methamphetamine abuse, “with addicts stealing copper wire and selling it to scrap dealers for fast cash.” A policeman told the AP that “we’re losing anything from copper wiring in new homes. . . .to copper fittings on hot water heaters. It’s been ridiculous where we’re losing the stuff.”

In Fife, Wash., four people were arrested June 5 for the theft of 8,800 feet of railroad signaling wire that contained copper. A house of two of the thieves contained a meth lab.

The growth of industry in China has driven up the prices of copper, as it has other metals.

An article posted on the Pro-Vigil.com website lists seven top ways to stop copper thieves.

These include:

1. Protect yourself with live video surveillance. “Nothing stops a thief like flashing lights and an alarm. Adding live video surveillance to your jobsite or other areas of operation can stop copper theft entirely—especially if your security providers can call the police for you,” the article states.

2. Visit your operations at night. This will help you identify areas of vulnerability, such as areas of fence that fall into deep shadow.

3. Effective security lighting.

4. Regularly screen your employees for drug use. “Have a strict zero-tolerance policy and favor contractors and subcontractors who do the same.

5. Build effective fences. “Are your fences high enough—is there adequate signage that warns potential thieves that you prosecute to the fullest extent of the law? Your fences are the first and sometimes the most effective psychological defense against copper thieves.

6. Monitor the news for local copper theft, using Google news alerts.

7. Establish an end-of-day security routine. Either you or the person in charge of your security should walk your site at the end of the day to make sure that everything is secure and locked.

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