News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
It’s becoming one of the bigger trends in theft across the nation and here in the Upper Cumberland, stealing copper.
Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris said construction sites and air conditioning units have lots of copper components and are commonly targeted by copper thieves. Farris said copper has become a top item to steal as thieves steal it to try and make a quick buck.
“As of this morning, Copper was $5.21 a pound,” Farris said. “So you can see why people would want to steal that copper and take that to a facility where they can get paid.”
In recent weeks, power companies have seen power knocked out by copper thieves. Some surrounding areas have reported copper being removed from fiber cable lines hindering areas from communicating with emergency services. Farris said camera systems are one of the best ways to deter copper thieves from targeting your house.
“One of the things for us that has slowed that down is the camera system,” Farris said. “There are a lot of camera systems out on the market right now whether it be Ring or Blink or whoever the company may be but a lot of people will put those up. Even the construction companies will put those up at job sites now.”
Farris said many sheriff’s departments across the Upper Cumberland have had to perform extra security measures at construction sites to deter copper thieves.
“Over the years you know we have had to put extra watches on new construction houses and buildings especially while the electrical and wiring part of that construction was taking place,” Farris said. “So nothing new, we just hope that we don’t get that started back again here in the Upper Cumberland and Putnam County.”
Farris said copper thieves are opportunists and will look for vulnerable areas. Farris said most times copper thieves are convicted of stealing more than $10,000 worth of copper which is a class C felony. Farris said it does not take long for a copper thief to steal $10,000 worth of copper.
