Copper Thieves Add Oil Burners, Hot Water Heaters To Their "Must Have" List In One Massacusetts Region

In Haverhill, Massachusetts, The Eagle Tribune reports:

• The region has been hit by a wave of precious metal thefts as criminals attempt to cash in on a sellers market for the material at scrap yards. Recently, thieves have targeted foreclosed homes with valuable copper plumbing and other metals inside.

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• In Lawrence, three men were arrested Jan. 31 as they attempted to flee from a vacant three-decker in a pickup truck laden with two oil burners, three hot water heaters and assorted copper pipes, police said. In a separate incident Jan. 29, copper pipes were reported stolen during a break into a vacant home at [...] in Lawrence, and earlier in January, another 10 copper pipes were stolen from a vacant home [...]. Vacant property break-ins most often occur as thieves scavenge for copper and other valuables that get left behind. In Haverhill, a real estate agent discovered a break and theft of copper pipes at a vacant Hillside Avenue home in foreclosure. The thieves punched holes in the walls on all three floors to get at the pipes.

For more, see Police: Would-be copper thieves arrested in Haverhill.

For other stories on stolen copper, see Copper Thefts I and Copper Thefts II. copper metal theft yak