Pittsburgh Police Say Be On Lookout For Copper Thieves
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – At almost $3 per pound on the scrap market, copper is a hot commodity these days.
So hot, Pittsburgh Police Cmdr. Daniel Herrmann held a special news conference Friday, warning residents and business owners to be on the lookout. The target: downspouts.
"We are having a rash of copper downspout thefts and it got to the point where I wanted to alert citizens where these were happening," said Herrmann.
And where the thefts are happening: Shadyside, Oakland and Point Breeze, more than 25 cases within the last two months. There is no honor among these thieves. House have been hit, so has a church.
"These people, whoever they are, are just walking up to a house, cutting the straps that attach the downspouts to a home, shaking it loose and walking away with it," said Herrmann.
Investigators believe more than one person is involved because there has been so much activity.
"We do have a video of a white male from a surveillance camera," said Herrmann. "He walks up to the back of this building, cuts the straps, jiggles it loose and walks away and it took 10 seconds. And we do have information where there is possibly a green pickup truck involved."
The one thing that baffles police though, is where the copper is being taken. Area scrap metal businesses have been checked and it isn't there.
Meantime, police say if you see something suspicious, call 911.
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