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Efforts mounting to foil copper thieves
  
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By TANA ROSS
On Aug. 19 a Montgomery County deputy was dispatched to FM 1488 near Magnolia concerning a utility cable that was across the road, creating a traffic hazard. The deputy found the cable and evidence in a truck nearby that connected the driver to a $10,000 copper wire theft in the area. On Aug. 22 another deputy was dispatched to a business on FM 1488, where $50,000 of copper wire had been stolen.
In Montgomery County alone, copper theft has become 50 percent of all property thefts committed, according to Sgt. Melvin Franklin, supervisor of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Burglary and Theft Squad.
“Copper thefts do not outnumber other thefts, but they do fall within the top 50 percent of all property thefts,” he said.
Franklin said his department, formed in April as part of the sheriff’s office investigation division reorganization, has become pro-active with copper theft as well as other property crimes in the county. He said the B&T Squad has built relationships with several scrap metal companies in the county and has set up surveillance and sting operations that have paid off in arrests.
But Franklin admitted the problem is widespread and the county’s rural areas are prime targets for both residential and “pole” copper theft.
“These kind of cases are hard to deter at night,” he said. “With 300,000 people living in the county and a lot of rural area, it makes it hard.”
Franklin said “pole” copper theft is gaining popularity with thieves because it is quick and readily available. Pole theft involves climbing a pole, cutting the copper wiring and climbing another pole to do the same. The result is a stretch of copper wire as long as the thief desires, and at $3.40 a pound as reported by the New York Commodities Exchange, it is free money for the taking.
Lt. Chris Jones of the Pct. 5 Constable’s office said patrols are on alert for copper thieves in Magnolia area subdivisions at all times.
“Whenever we see a vehicle at a darkened residence at night, we stop and check on the situation,” he said.
While copper thefts are criminal cases and are investigated by the sheriff’s B&T Squad, some business owners and homeowners have been taking an active role in guarding against the felony crime. Last fall, Kelly Plunkett who owns the now-closed Montgomery’s Pub and Grill on FM 1488, said copper thieves have cost him and his neighbors a fortune. Plunkett along with two armed men set up guard at the business that was up for sale.
Earlier this month “Post-Bulletin,” an online news publication reported Eugene and Sue Wentz camped out with their 7-month-old son for nine nights in a tent on their property in Lake Windcrest after all the copper wiring and air-conditioning tubing had been ripped out of their rough-framed dream home in July.
The National Association of Home Builders, a U.S. trade group, estimates the annual cost of copper theft has climbed to $5 billion. Unfortunately, this cost is passed down to buyers and can add as much as 10 percent to the cost of a home.
In response to the large amount of copper theft losses, many communication companies have implemented an alarm on their cable systems. The system will alert law enforcement and the communications company of any interruption in cable communications due to attempted thefts.
Builders and contractors are using metal boxes to lock job site materials in, at night. Magnolia Independent School District Construction Manager At-Risk Tim Brunner said the boxes along with motion detectors and battery operated security call systems were used at Magnolia Parkway Elementary School while it was under construction this past year.
Franklin says the systems are working and criminals should beware.
“In most cases, the alarm goes off and we respond,” he said. “We have caught several crooks that way.”
Sources: The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and The National Association of Home Builders, online at www.nahb.org.
In Montgomery County alone, copper theft has become 50 percent of all property thefts committed, according to Sgt. Melvin Franklin, supervisor of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Burglary and Theft Squad.
“Copper thefts do not outnumber other thefts, but they do fall within the top 50 percent of all property thefts,” he said.
Franklin said his department, formed in April as part of the sheriff’s office investigation division reorganization, has become pro-active with copper theft as well as other property crimes in the county. He said the B&T Squad has built relationships with several scrap metal companies in the county and has set up surveillance and sting operations that have paid off in arrests.
But Franklin admitted the problem is widespread and the county’s rural areas are prime targets for both residential and “pole” copper theft.
“These kind of cases are hard to deter at night,” he said. “With 300,000 people living in the county and a lot of rural area, it makes it hard.”
Franklin said “pole” copper theft is gaining popularity with thieves because it is quick and readily available. Pole theft involves climbing a pole, cutting the copper wiring and climbing another pole to do the same. The result is a stretch of copper wire as long as the thief desires, and at $3.40 a pound as reported by the New York Commodities Exchange, it is free money for the taking.
Lt. Chris Jones of the Pct. 5 Constable’s office said patrols are on alert for copper thieves in Magnolia area subdivisions at all times.
“Whenever we see a vehicle at a darkened residence at night, we stop and check on the situation,” he said.
While copper thefts are criminal cases and are investigated by the sheriff’s B&T Squad, some business owners and homeowners have been taking an active role in guarding against the felony crime. Last fall, Kelly Plunkett who owns the now-closed Montgomery’s Pub and Grill on FM 1488, said copper thieves have cost him and his neighbors a fortune. Plunkett along with two armed men set up guard at the business that was up for sale.
Earlier this month “Post-Bulletin,” an online news publication reported Eugene and Sue Wentz camped out with their 7-month-old son for nine nights in a tent on their property in Lake Windcrest after all the copper wiring and air-conditioning tubing had been ripped out of their rough-framed dream home in July.
The National Association of Home Builders, a U.S. trade group, estimates the annual cost of copper theft has climbed to $5 billion. Unfortunately, this cost is passed down to buyers and can add as much as 10 percent to the cost of a home.
In response to the large amount of copper theft losses, many communication companies have implemented an alarm on their cable systems. The system will alert law enforcement and the communications company of any interruption in cable communications due to attempted thefts.
Builders and contractors are using metal boxes to lock job site materials in, at night. Magnolia Independent School District Construction Manager At-Risk Tim Brunner said the boxes along with motion detectors and battery operated security call systems were used at Magnolia Parkway Elementary School while it was under construction this past year.
Franklin says the systems are working and criminals should beware.
“In most cases, the alarm goes off and we respond,” he said. “We have caught several crooks that way.”
Copper theft facts:
- Copper theft makes up 50 percent of all larceny/theft crimes in Montgomery County.
- Copper theft has reached the $5 billion mark in loss, for home builders.
- Coper theft losses are a passed on to buyers adding as much as 10 percent to the cost of a new home.
- There has been a five-fold increase in copper prices since 2004 in response to rising demand from China and India.
- A new cottage industry of guard services, surveillance and security devices has emerged in response to the increase in copper theft.
Sources: The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and The National Association of Home Builders, online at www.nahb.org.
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