Thieves looking for valuable copper items have targeted an Okotoks business.
A number of coils of copper wire were stolen from Quigley Electric in two separate incidents in the last two months.
It’s part of a larger trend that has seen the metal become a hot item among thieves thanks to high prices on the world commodities markets.
At about 9:50 p.m. on Nov. 19, two individuals broke into the compound behind the business and stole a number of coils of copper wire.
“They drove right up to where we keep some coils of wire… they got out of the truck put the coils of wire on the truck and drove away,” said business owner Jean Quigley.
In a more brazen incident on Dec. 20 at 11:04 a.m., an individual entered the compound during business hours and stole a number of copper wire coils.
Quigley said this occurred moments before a technician walked out the back entrance of the business to go to his truck.
“There’s always lots of activity back there so for him to just drive in like that and no one happened to spot him he was pretty lucky,” she said.
Security footage of both incidents has been provided to the Okotoks RCMP and Quigley has informed potential buyers in the area about the theft.
She estimated the value of the stolen wire as between $2,000 and $3,000.
It’s not the first theft of copper wire the company has faced, but she said it has been a couple years since the last incident.
She said they had a good security system in place and have upgraded it since the thefts.
RCMP spokesperson Patrick Webb said thefts of copper have increased as the price of the commodity has risen, making it more attractive to criminals.
“With the world copper prices going up, it just works down through the system causing the price of scrap copper to be worth more than it has in a long time,” he said.
Webb said it’s something that does take some work on the part of thieves because the material is heavy and often needs to be separated from other components.
“To steal a roll of copper is not easily done,” he said.
Webb said thieves often target more remote locations where they can work without being seen.
In some cases, he said some scrap dealers are not taking any consideration over whether copper they’re buying has been stolen.
Anyone who has any information about the thefts is asked to call the Okotoks RCMP at 403-938-7046 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
