June 27, 2011

Just because you haven't heard as much about them lately doesn't mean there have been fewer metal thefts.

"In fact, there's been an increase in metal thefts, coppers included but all types of metal," Phoenix Police Sergeant Darren Burch said.

Burch says it's dangerous for all of us when desperate thieves strip street lights of wiring. They're also breaking into and disabling A/C units, which can make life miserable for the rest of us.

"The air conditioning units at both the construction sites, that are in boxes, as well as actually on the home, so they're stealing anything," Burch said. "Literally what's nailed down and what's not nailed down."

Even police are surprised at the things metal thieves will steal.

"Things that people aren't even aware of," Burch said, "like the cattle guards that you're driving, they're stealing bronze statues, but they're also stealing copper, and the copper is coming from the APS and SRP sites, and different electrical sites as well as the water pumping stations.

"This is causing a direct hazard to the public."

So our local utility companies are trying to do something about the problem.

"APS and SRP have teamed up so that now there is a $10,000 Silent Witness reward for information leading to the arrest and indictment of these suspects," Burch said.