La policía está tomando medidas enérgicas contra una nueva tendencia de robo que deja a todos los vecindarios vulnerables.
Undercover detectives busted copper thieves in a La Jolla condominium complex July 25, resulting in one arrest. The local copper crooks left a devastating amount of damage pillaging area schools ” mainly in Point Loma and Ocean Beach ” but damage branched to areas such as Pacific Beach, University City and Old Town this past year.
“It makes us mad that it’s so easy to steal,” said Johnny LeRoy, of Old Town Recycling. “The best is wire from power lines, or the kind that comes out of walls is good, too. But now at least people put a lock on it.”
LeRoy and his wife run a recycling business in Old Town. Because copper thievery is a growing trend, targeting area schools and public utilities for its high payout ” mostly plumbing fixtures and electrical wiring ” police have asked recyclers like LeRoy to take precautionary measures, ensuring capture and arrest of criminals. LeRoy and his wife acquiesce, but said they are angry that people don’t protect the metal.
“Cuando vamos a restaurantes por aquí, hemos visto cobre sentado sin nadie allí”, dijo LeRoy. “Entonces, si eres el ladrón, ¿qué vas a hacer?”
Aunque los ladrones de cobre fueron noticia como adictos a las drogas, LeRoy dijo que ha surgido una nueva raza.
“In the first wave, there used to be more people [selling stolen copper] addicted to drugs. And the second wave was to survive. Now, it’s mixed ” we have both,” LeRoy said. “It’s the new welfare of the people. It’s the easy way. They don’t have to apply for it.”
Whether because of welfare or drug addictions, San Diego was hit hard, costing the school district about $250,000, according to Lt. Rueben Littlejohn of the San Diego Unified School District Police Department. Littlejohn’s team of state police working for San Diego’s school district began investigating copper thievery about one year ago.
“We’re up to around 30 cases districtwide,” Littlejohn said.
Littlejohn said more than 30 schools were vandalized for their copper piping, wiring and other metals like brass backflow systems. According to police, thieves found that breaking into schools and stealing from public utilities was easier than breaking into cars.
“It’s not exclusive to schools,” Littlejohn said. “Big businesses in those same neighborhoods are victims too.”
Copper crooks entered onto area schools this past year, stealing hundreds of pounds of wiring and closing classes.
“Recuperar el tiempo con los estudiantes después del hecho no puede suceder”, dijo Littlejohn. “Hay un interés general porque estamos aquí para brindarles a los niños”.
La policía comenzó a tomar medidas de precaución, colocando firmas como grabados en relieve en el cobre para seguirlo una vez que fuera robado. El Departamento de Policía de San Diego, el Departamento del Sheriff del Condado de San Diego y el equipo de Littlejohn rastrean el cobre robado de escuelas públicas o servicios públicos, dijo.
“The thieves will take 200 or 300 pounds of the stuff at a time,” said a San Diego police detective working undercover on ongoing area copper cases. “They take it home that night and strip the wire into 18-inch lengths.”
According to the detective, the copper crooks take the stolen metal to a local recycler for about $1.85 per pound.
“Es un trabajo muy duro porque mucha gente está haciendo lo incorrecto”, dijo LeRoy.
Aunque la ley local exige que los recicladores registren los números de licencia de conducir y las placas, LeRoy dijo que no aceptará más de 25 libras de cobre a menos que el cliente sea dueño de una empresa de construcción.
“Cuando tengo la sensación de que no es un tipo normal, me quedo con las cosas por un par de semanas”, dijo LeRoy.
Politicians proposed new legislation to make selling metals like copper more difficult, the detective said, including a waiting period for checks issued. Police hope the bill gets passed, he said. Until that day, they count on legitimate recyclers to work with them.
According to police, after thieves sell copper to a recycling center, that recycling center sells to a larger nation that converts the metal back into a product.
“La mayoría de los productos reciclados se reciclan en China. El objetivo final es vender [los metales] a China”, dijo el detective.
Copper prices change daily. Some of the biggest victims include public utility companies, including San Diego Gas & Electric, which is funding a Crimestoppers reward, police said.
Anyone who turns in a copper thief for prosecution will receive up to $2,000, police said. To report a copper theft, call (888) 580-TIPS.