Thieves Still Raiding Homes for Copper: Problem is Affecting Landlords, Police

By Greg Sowinski, The Lima News, Ohio

Dec. 12–LIMA — A police detective stood inside a vacant rental property Tuesday next to a landlord whose house was raided by a thief for its copper waterlines and electrical wire.

The two men were showing off the home to highlight a problem that is affecting landlords and police. Thieves break into the home to grab the copper waterlines and electrical wire from the basement where, it’s easily accessible.

The thieves then take the copper to scrap-metal dealers to get cash.

Lima Police Department Detective Don Marik said the thieves he’s seen steal to survive or for drug money. The problem is growing with an estimated 50 to 75 reported cases a year, Marik said.

“That doesn’t include the cases that go unreported,” he said.

Landlord Craig Jordan said every time he has a house hit for its copper he has to repair it and pass the bill onto tenants through higher rent.

Just last week Jordan had electricians inside a house on Metcalf Street replacing stolen wire. When they took a lunch the thief returned while they were gone and stole the new wire, he said.

Marik said police have caught people but only a few. Typically, someone stealing is dragging a bag along with them with pipes or wire sticking out on the way to the recycler, he said.

“You see them carrying it like Santa Claus,” he said.

Although theft is a misdemeanor, breaking into a house to steal wire is a felony that can send someone to prison, Marik said.

Thieves also have been bold enough to steal aluminum siding and gutters off houses, Jordan said.

Both Marik and Jordan would like to see the city of Lima enact a law similar to one that was enacted in Columbus earlier this year, which licenses scrap-metal dealers and requires them to report daily purchases to police.

The Columbus law also requires people show identification and provide a thumbprint.

Assistant Lima Law Director Tammie Hursh said there is no legislation pending to license scrap-metal dealers but it’s something City Council could consider.

Jordan said more needs to be done with scrap-metal dealers.

“Wire and plumbing simply doesn’t lie on the ground and you walk up to it and pick it up,” Jordan said.

But Adam Wright of Allen County Recyclers said his company already has steps in place such as checking identification and recording videotape of everyone who comes into his business. He said he has no way of telling whether someone is a thief or where they got the metal.

“We see contractors, businessmen, household moms and dads, and streetwalkers,” he said.

Wright said he would not oppose a city law that requires daily reporting but said it does not target the real problem.

“It sounds like to me they ought to take care of the drugs and alcohol first before they go after the metal,” Wright said. “I think we got bigger problems to worry about than some wiring being taken.”

Wright estimated thieves may get $20 to $30 for the copper they pull from waterlines and electrical wire from any given house. Jordan said thieves grab what they can easily get, which typically is wire and pipe fastened to the bottom of floor joists in the basement, and get out fast.

Chuck Youtsey, of Omnisource, said his company checks identification from anyone turning in metal and those names are entered into a database. He said his company has numerous people bringing in copper wire and waterlines daily.

Another concern Marik had was the danger associated with stealing wire. Someone easily could be electrocuted, he said.

Police also do not want to see more houses in the city deteriorating at the hands of metal thieves, Marik said.

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