In an effort to prevent theft, local metal recyclers do communicate with police if they receive large amounts of copper wire or tubing from questionable sources, however, some thefts do go unnoticed, says MHPS Const. Troy Grisbrook.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
kking@medicinehatnews.com
While the News is used to covering crime in Medicine Hat, it isn’t quite as familiar with being a victim of it.
However, on May 19, an HVAC worker hired by the News noticed that approximately five feet of copper tubing had been stolen from the rooftop air conditioning unit of the News building on Dunmore Road, resulting in more than $6,000 in damage to the unit.
“We had our HVAC company come in to start up our air conditioners,” said mailroom and building manager Darryl Lockwood. “(A company worker) went up there and discovered one cover off an air conditioning unit, and discovered that copper tubing had been cut and yanked out of it.”
Lockwood explained the tubing was roughly five feet in length and a quarter-inch thick, and while not a great deal of tubing was stolen, the means by which it was extracted caused significant damage to the unit.
“When you take the copper tubing out, all the (refrigerant) is gone,” said Lockwood. “So, then all the existing lines have to actually be taken out properly, re-engineered, put back in and then you have to fill the unit again.”
Once discovered, the theft was reported to police, however there are few leads for investigators to follow up on as it is unknown the exact date the theft took place.
Const. Troy Grisbrook of Medicine Hat Police Services’ Regional Property Crime Unit, says theft of copper wire and tubing is a somewhat sporadic crime, but overall, is not very common.
“In our southern Alberta area, it’s usually more prevalent within the rural communities, specifically stemming around abandoned compressor stations,” said Grisbrook. “Within the city itself, it’s not very prevalent.”
Nevertheless, Grisbrook says it does sometimes occur in Medicine Hat, with culprits stealing copper wire or tubing from abandoned or operational machinery, then selling it as scrap metal.
While some who successfully pull off the theft do make substantial amounts of money, the sum is largely dependent on the amount, grade and condition of the copper.
“It’s more or less a crime of opportunity for individuals trying to look for a quick buck,” said Grisbrook. “However, it takes a lot of time and effort to identify where the copper wire is, but also to strip it (of) any plastic or any coatings on the copper wire (because if not-stripped) they don’t get as much money for it.”
At Medicine Hat’s largest metal recycler, PHF Steel and Recycling, copper wire and tubing stripped of coating, of good grade and in good contrition, sells for roughly $2.65 per pound; while that with coating, of poor grade or in poor condition, sells anywhere between $0.25 and $2 a pound.
Lockwood says he finds the whole situation frustrating, especially as the amount stolen would garner only roughly $5, much less than what is needed for repairs.
“We’re not a huge company, but we’re neither a small one,” he said. “So, for us to absorb the $6,000 is probably not outrageous, but if you think of, let’s say, a stand-alone business … a $6,000 hit would be huge.”
