Copper Theft
Copper theft in North Minneapolis causes house explosion
Thieves have found a new way to steal money. Copper.
From utility poles, to vacant copper pipes in vacant homes, burglars are finding a way to get their hands on this rising metal.
And for $3 to $4 a pound at a salvage center, copper’s chunk change can quickly add up.
Sunday morning, a vacant multiplex exploded sending glass windows across the street. Thieves cut through a gas line in order to steal copper. Which, emitted gas to later cause the explosion.
“There’s nothing left of it. The roof has pancaked down,� said Deputy Chief Dave DeWall of the Minneapolis Fire Department.
Officers believe there is a link between drug use and easy access to copper refund money.
“They can come here, cut a line, turn it in, maybe get 20 or 30 bucks,� Minneapolis police officer assigned to the problem, Rich Jackson said. “Well that’s a hit of meth, a hit of crack, couple bags of marijuana.�
Xcel Energy said they have taken action by replacing stolen ground wiring with copper-clad wires with little to no value.
Sources:
KARE11 “Explosion levels multiplex in North Minneapolis� - http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=525102
WorldNow “Copper theft a rapidly growing crime� - http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=5109520
KARE 11 “Copper thieves target utility poles� - http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=508446