The demand for copper from developing nations such as China and India is creating a robust international copper trade. Copper thieves are exploiting this demand and the resulting price surge by stealing and selling the metal for high profits to recyclers across the United States.
Do people steal copper from houses?
Thieves target any areas of exposed copper for its high scrap value and the ease of taking it to a number of different scrap yards for cash. Stolen copper is valuable as scrap metal because it can be easily reused to make fibre optics and high value plumbing and electrical parts.
How did the thieves steal the copper wire?
The thieves likely used sledgehammers to smash into boxes of wires running to light poles, clipped the copper and then used cars or trucks to pull 30,000 to 35,000 feet of wire out of the ground, authorities said. The scale of the heist, they said, indicates that the thieves had sophisticated electrical know-how.
Why are metals stolen?
Apart from precious metals like gold and silver, the metals most commonly stolen are non-ferrous metals such as copper, aluminium, brass, and bronze.Whereas other items are generally stolen for their extrinsic value, items involved in metal theft are stolen for their intrinsic value as raw material or commodities.
How do you prevent copper theft?
How to Prevent Copper Theft
- Install Security Lighting. Most criminals prefer to operate under cover of darkness, so security lights can be an effective deterrent.
- Install Mobile Surveillance Cameras.
- Install Perimeter Fences.
- Place Warning Signs Around the Site.
Can copper wire be traced?
The Trouble With Tracking
Once the copper is stolen, it’s nearly impossible to track it down. “They’re stealing it to bring it someplace where it’s melted down. It’s not like stealing a TV where there’s a serial number, or a car where there’s a VIN number and can easily be traced,” Rubino says.
Why are people stealing copper pipes?
Stolen copper is valuable as scrap because the metal is used for so many items—from fiber optics to plumbing to anything electrical—and the profits are tempting.
Where is the most copper in a house?
Small Appliances – Smaller items inside your house that may break can have a good amount of copper wire in them too. Some items like coffee makers, AC Units, Fans, Blenders, Toasters, and more all have insulated wire inside and on the outside of them.
Where is the best place to steal copper?
Blogs
- Old houses. Although PVC pipe is now the standard material used in household plumbing, there are plenty of old houses around the state that still use copper pipes.
- Thrift stores.
- Auto parts.
- Roofing.
- Household appliances.
- Computers and TVs.
What happens if you get caught stealing copper?
Penalties
If charged as a felony, the maximum penalty that a defendant can receive is three years in prison. If charged as a misdemeanor, the maximum sentence would be a year in county jail. In either case, the defendant would be expected to pay restitution to the victim for any loss incurred as a result of the crime.
How do you steal copper?
Copper may be stolen from electric poles, power lines, substations and company storage yards. Cables are cut at short lengths, approximately 2-6 feet, with a saw, bolt cutters or ax. Before resale, the plastic sheathing and outer skin are usually removed from the cable because raw copper is more valuable.
Do people steal gates?
The most common theory is that someone is selling the gates to local scrap metal yards. Thanks to a recent surge in the price of scrap metal, thieves around the country are looking for excess material, and everything from fire hydrants to remnants at construction sites is fair game.
What is the highest copper price ever?
Historically, Copper reached an all time high of 5.02 in March of 2022.
How much copper is in a house?
An average single-family home uses 439 pounds of copper. Some 10,000 copper range hoods and 20,000 weather vanes are produced annually, using about 7 pounds of copper each. The average house has 12 locksets: 2½ are keyed, the rest are passage sets.
Why do people steal catalytic converters?
Money is the main reason catalytic converters are often stolen. They contain three metals that aid in the chemical reaction that makes exhaust pollutants less harmful: platinum, palladium and rhodium.
What is copper price?
Copper
| Copper | Price/lb. |
|---|---|
| Bare Bright Wire (stripped/shiny) | $3.90 |
| #1 Tubing (clean tube/ clean fine wire) | $3.80 |
| #2 Tubing (paint/solder/burnt wire) | $3.55 |
| Tin Plated (wire/bus) | $3.55 |
How much copper is in a power line transformer?
But what about cost? Rahangdale says, In a typical large transformer, 50% of the cost is in materials. Of that, about 15% to 20% is for copper and an equal percentage is for steel structural members and core laminations with the remainder in oil, insulation and the rest.
What is copper wire?
Copper electrical wires are safer to use than wires made of most other conductive metals because they are resistant to heat. As you can see, copper is the preferred metal for electrical wires for several reasons. It has high electrical conductive; it’s inexpensive; it’s ductile; and it’s thermal resistant.
Why do people steal electrical cables?
Why do people steal cables? Cable theft is thought to be done by people who see this as making quick money. There are also syndicates who operate in conjunction with unscrupulous scrap yard dealers. Cable theft has a big impact on crucial services like public transport, electricity, telephone and internet.
How are catalytic converters stolen?
Some thieves bring a mechanic’s creeper. Then all they do is slide under the vehicle, remove the bolts holding the converter, and take it. Thieves can remove the unit within a minute or two. Typically, catalytic converters are stolen from cars and trucks in driveways, strip malls or in parking garages.
How much is a pound of copper worth?
Copper Price Today
| Copper Spot Price | Spot Change | |
|---|---|---|
| Copper Price per Pound | $4.71 | -0.21 |
| Copper Price per Ounce | $0.29 | -0.02 |
| Copper Price per Ton | $9,420.00 | -420.00 |
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