Copper thefts linked to meth abuse

Saturday, July 15, 2006

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

TACOMA -- Pierce County authorities attribute an increase in metal theft to methamphetamine abuse, with addicts stealing copper wire and selling it to scrap dealers for fast cash.

When sheriff's deputies arrested a 29-year-old Graham man last month stealing copper wiring from a Puyallup-area grocery store -- ignoring even the cash-filled safe -- they said it represented a growing trend of thieves swiping copper wiring, tubing and gutters to get money for a meth habit.

"We're losing anything from copper wiring in new homes ... to copper fittings on hot water heaters," said Fife police Lt. Dave Woods. "It's been ridiculous where we're losing the stuff."

Copper prices have risen with China's recent building boom and market speculation, said Jim Sharick, general manager of Tacoma Metals Inc., a scrap metal buyer at the Port of Tacoma.

In mid-May, copper was almost $4 a pound compared with $2.10 per pound late last year, according to Kitco.com, a precious metals retailer. Recent trading puts it at about $3.60 per pound.

Almost $38,000 in materials was stolen in June in 10 copper thefts in Yelm, Olympia and Tenino, according to information released by the Thurston County Sheriff's Office.

In Tacoma, the frequency of copper thefts in the Nalley Valley industrial area has investigators helping businesses install camera surveillance, police spokeswoman Tracy Conaway said.

"It takes such a short period of time, and they leave no evidence behind," she said. Search dogs "can be more effective, but we're pushing for them to get cameras."

Tacoma Public Utilities has increased security after thefts at its buildings, spokeswoman Sue Veseth said.

There's been a 25 percent increase in metal thefts since 2005, said Detective Brian Stepp, who investigated the June grocery store theft for the Pierce County Sheriff's Department. He said he sees a direct connection between the thefts and methamphetamine addiction.

Add P-I Local headlines to