Minnesota Homeowner Loses Home In Copper Theft As Severed Gas Line Causes Explosion

In Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Minnesota Post reports on the destuctive effect that copper thieves are having on the city's North Side. The following excerpt decribes the predicament of one local homeowner who literally lost her home as a result of the actions of one or more copper thieves intent on scoring a couple of hundred bucks worth of copper:

• Sean McKenna, an arson investigator with the Minneapolis Police Department, points to the nightmare story of 3500 N. Fourth St. In December 2006, while homeowner Keili Mac was overseas on an extended vacation, a burglar severed a gas line in the basement, causing the house to fill with gas and explode. By the time Mac returned to the country, the house had been razed by the city because it was a hazard. To add insult to injury, McKenna said, Mac found herself mired in a contentious struggle with her insurance company, which balked at her claim because it didn't have the opportunity to evaluate damages before the demolition. McKenna is unaware of the final resolution of the case. Mac could not be reached for comment.

For more, see On Minneapolis' North Side, copper-theft epidemic adds to mounting housing problems.

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

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