Thieves Steal 17,000 Pounds of Copper From Middletown, Ohio-Area Machine Shop

By Daniel Wells, Middletown Journal, Ohio

May 20–Police said thieves made off with about 17,000 pounds of copper last weekend from the Chautauqua Fiberglass and Plastics machine shop at 2601 S. Verity Parkway.

The metal is valued at between $60,000 and $100,000, said Middletown police Detective Rich Bush.

While thefts of copper piping from single-family homes have become a common problem in Middletown, the Chautauqua theft — which included 16 600-pound copper pieces — showed an unusual level of planning, police said.

“It’s not something they walked out with underneath their coats,” Bush said.

“Whoever did this spent some time in there.” The shop, which employs about 20 workers, was closed over the weekend when the thieves cut a lock on one of the gates and then forced entry into the building through a walk-in door, Bush said. Workers reported the theft Monday morning, May 19.

Police do not have any suspects in the theft but did find tracks from a vehicle or trailer with four rear wheels at the scene.

Bush asked anyone with information to call the Middletown police detective section at (513) 425-7737.

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