Investigating Copper Thieves

It’s a dangerous and expensive problem; every time a thief steals copper from the utility companies people all over southeast Michigan pay the price.

So Action News Investigator Heather Catallo took a closer look at the underground world of people who are willing to get electrocuted just to make a buck.

The price of copper is about 3.50 a pound, so that means criminals can make a lot of dough selling stolen wire.

But only here in Detroit are thieves willing to climb up electrical poles and risk getting shocked to steal the copper.

Someone used this rickety ladder to climb up a utility pole and steal the copper wire that makes up the electrical and phone lines in metro Detroit.

Next to a small church on Detroit’s east side DTE Energy’s Chief Security Officer Michael Lynch gave the Investigators a first hand look at the damage just one copper thief can do to a community.

Not only did a criminal cut the power lines to the church – he also stole the copper wiring right out of their air conditioners – for the third time.

Cut power lines can bring a business to a screeching halt and it doesn’t matter where you live – suburbs or city – you are paying for the criminals coveting copper.

“We have a really unique problem here in the city, in that persons are willing to risk their lives to climb a utility pole to cut down an energized conductor. In speaking w/ my counterparts across the nation, no one is having that kind of unique problem,” said Lynch.

The problem is so big that the Michigan Public Service Commission – which oversees the phone and power companies – is asking for help.

DTE is also hoping for help by offering rewards to people with information.

One man – who asked not to be identified – told DTE about what was going on at the “Miss Quickie Motel” on Detroit’s west side – people were trading copper wire for drugs.

The tipster got $2,500 for the information. The Miss Quickie scrap operation got shut down and according to DTE six people got locked up.

People caught stealing copper wire could face a 10-year felony.

For more information visit www.michigan.gov/mpsc

Report Copper Theft to DTE:

$2500 Reward for information leading to the arrest of those who buy stolen DTE copper wire

$1000 Reward for information leading to the arrest of those who steal copper wire from DTE

Call 313-235-9119

To view the online article, please click here.

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