May 8, 2008 9:34 pm US/Eastern
Copper Thieves Target Winchester Churches
WINCHESTER, Mass. (WBZ) ―
-
-
Thieves ripped off copper downsprouts from the Parish of the Epiphany in Winchester to be sold off as scrap metal.
WBZ
Copper thefts are continuing to be a growing problem across the state amid tough economic times.
Thieves are becoming more and more brazen as they target homes and businesses and even churches in Winchester.
The Parish of the Epiphany in Winchester has been the target of copper thieves more than once. An 8-foot copper downspout was stolen last month and one night later another downspout was yanked right off the building.
"I've heard of copper thefts at homes and other places, but a church," said church sexton Fred Benson.
It's all to get at the valuable metal that is being ripped off in dozens of Massachusetts communities. But another Winchester church has been targeted -- St. Mary's -- where they just had to replace stolen copper downspouts with painted aluminum.
It's widely believed economic hard times are driving the rash of thefts and at nearly $4 a pound, copper is hot stuff.
"If you got a couple hundred pounds that's a good pay day," said Mark Gitlin of Mid-City Scrap in Westport.
Gitlin is on the receiving end. On any given day there is a line of cars turning in scrap metal and security cameras making sure they're legitimate.
"These are old copper pipes, old copper wire," Gitlin said. "If you say it came out of your house why would I think differently?"
He said he's not afraid to ask and film and turn questionable sellers of this metal over to police.
Last month, Boston police reported copper being stolen from a Verizon store lot on Boston Street, valued at more than $1,000 in three incidents.
Haverhill police also reported last month that more than $500 worth of copper pipe was ripped out of a home's basement.
Insurance only covered a small portion of the theft in Winchester. The Parish of the Epiphany will also have to dip into its budget to replace the copper downspouts with painted aluminum.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Hull Parents Back In Court For Daughter's Fatal OD 53 mins ago
Stumble It!
Reporting
