Copper wire a popular target for thieves
Mounties say thefts at oilfield sites and rural properties have increased this year
Theft of copper wire has been a frequent occurrence across Alberta over recent months, according to RCMP. RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Curtis Peters said from the north end of the province to the south, officers are seeing similar circumstances in each case of copper theft. “What we’re finding is that oilfield sites in more remote areas are being targeted for the copper wire,” Peters said.
The suspects are typically stealing wire for the copper content and then taking it to a recycling company, where they get paid by weight for it. “Unfortunately, companies are letting them ‘recycle’ this stuff that is in fact stolen, so it’s perpetuating the problem,” said Peters.
On Monday, Mounties in Fort Macleod received a report of an overnight theft of copper wire from a rural business. RCMP say about $15,000 worth of copper wire was cut out of heavy equipment and stolen.
Last week, four Vulcan residents were charged in connection with a series of rural thefts in southern Alberta.
On March 12, a Vulcan RCMP officer attended an oilfield site where copper wire had been stolen and tire marks were visible in the snow. The officer later found a vehicle with similar tires. Mounties say a search of the car produced evidence in other property crime files.
On March 30, RCMP searched a home in Vulcan after stolen property was sold online. Officers arrested five people and recovered more than $10,000 in stolen property, which has been traced back to thefts in High River, Drumheller and Vulcan. Mounties say over the course of their investigation, they determined the stolen items were sold online and to scrap metal dealers in Calgary.
“In 2017, RCMP members in southern Alberta have had an increase in calls for service relating to thefts from rural properties and oilfield sites,” RCMP said in a news release following the investigation.
“Many of the reported instances have involved theft of equipment and tools as well as batteries, fuel, vehicles and copper wire.”
Other recent cases of copper wire theft include in Kathyrn, Alta. on April 3. Airdrie rural RCMP asked for the public’s help to identify the suspect in that incident, which took place on March 4 at a commercial property.
In December 2016, Vulcan RC MP laid charges against a 53-year-old man following five investigations into thefts from oilfield sites in the area. On Feb. 1, the man was arrested in Vulcan and charged with another 16 counts in relation to the thefts. On Feb. 3, Richard Rossi entered guilty pleas to charges including theft over $5,000, two counts of theft under $5,000, and possession of property obtained by crime. He is currently serving a six-month jail sentence.
Peters said in his 11 years as a police officer in Alberta, copper theft has been an “on-again, off-again trend.”
“It just depends on what the market is for copper and depending on how much it’s worth — unfortunately it increases the supply and the demand,” he said.
He added that Mounties are often finding that people involved in copper theft are also involved in other crimes. “This is generally related to drug use — property crimes committed to feed addictions,” he said.