Copper thefts on the rise throughout Michiana

November 17, 2010|By Dustin Grove (grove@wsbt.com)

The price of copper is on the rise and so is the number of thieves stealing the metal to cash in.

In the last three weeks, we've heard from authorities dealing with this in Cass County, Berrien County, St. Joseph County and all the way west to the Illinois line. Because copper prices on the rise; thieves are stealing it wherever they can get it. Police say it's only a matter of time before it kills one of them. And in some states, it already has.

For Chief Robert Byrd, right now, the biggest battle in the war on crime doesn’t involve drugs or guns.

“It’s copper wire,” said Byrd.

Transit Police with the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District say thieves have stolen copper wire from the South Shore’s electric rail line 25 times in just three months.

“They’ll essentially cit it, rip it up out of the ground and then begin to dismantle it and take it to the scrap dealer,” said Byrd.

With the price of copper on the rise, Transit Police aren’t the only ones. From vacant homes to abandoned businesses to farm equipment, anywhere copper is found – criminals are calling.

But Transit Police say it’s not just illegal – it can also be deadly.

“If the train’s in the circuit the line is energized so you could be electrocuted or you’re going to be struck and killed by a train,” said Byrd.

Power companies say they, too, are being hit by thieves targeting utility poles, electrical cabinets and inside transformers. AEP says since January, at least three people have died.

There was a report of thieves targeting an electrical subsidiary in West Virginia, and as for police on the South Shore…

“We have made a number of arrests before we're going to make an arrest in this case. It's just putting it together,” Byrd added. “But is it worth going to jail for or getting killed? That's what you have to weigh."

Indiana Michigan Power says tampering with electrical equipment can alter the design of the distribution system which can not only be dangerous for thieves, but for employees who work on the system and the public, too. It also has the potential to create widespread power outages. So if you see anything suspicious, you're urged to call police or the power company.

Transit Police say a $5,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the people responsible for stealing copper from the railroad.

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