Taking action on metal and wire theft

What is metal and wire theft?

Metal theft is a growing and challenging problem that tends to be underestimated. Local wire and metal theft problems can be linked to international demand and high prices for metal.

Metal wires

Thieves target all kinds of metals. Theft can include catalytic converters in cars, copper boat propellers, metal roof gutters and fencing. Wire from street lamps and telephone cables are also vulnerable, as well as vacant buildings and homes under construction.

Thieves use a variety of methods to locate and steal wire and metal. Some have posed as renovation contractors while stripping copper from vacant homes. Others have been known to use resources such as Google Earth to identify large amounts of metal (such as spools of wire) stored outdoors.

Costs due to damage done by theft to commercial or residential properties can easily outweigh the value of the stolen items.

How does metal and wire theft impact you?

What to look for

What do I do?

This material is reproduced with the permission of City of Surrey Crime Reduction Strategy and Surrey RCMP.

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