Theft of copper, metal a huge problem in Yarmouth County says RCMP

By Tina Comeau

THE VANGUARD

NovaNewsNow.com

The Yarmouth Rural RCMP says thefts of copper and other metals have turned into a huge problem in Yarmouth County.

“It would be safe to say that a large, if not the vast majority of our thefts, now are all stemming from the theft of copper or metal,” says Constable Aaron Skidmore.

One of the latest incidents of alleged copper theft occurred on the afternoon of July 24 when the rural detachment received a call reporting a break and enter in progress at a house in Hebron, Yarmouth County. Four individuals have been arrested and charged with break, enter and theft as a result – two female youths, one male youth and an adult male. The youths, aged 14, 15 and 16 cannot be named. Police have identified the adult as 20-year-old Nicholas Franklyn Surette of Hebron.

The four are accused of stealing copper wire from the unoccupied residence.

They are slated to appear in court in September.

Const. Skidmore says metal theft is becoming a real problem in the county, as well as the province as a whole.

The RCMP has a pretty good idea of where the copper and metal is going. Proving it is another issue.

As for where such thefts are happening, Const. Skidmore says you name it, places are being targeted.

“From people’s homes to fish plants to wharves,” he says, adding while copper is the hottest and most valuable commodity, it’s not the only thing people are after.

“Stainless steal is another, aluminum too, they were stealing road signs, guards rails. They’re after electrical wire but they’re also now after welder’s equipment. They hit the radio tower out in Deerfield and stole copper wire from there,” he says. “You name it, they’re stealing it.”

And causing damage in the process, whether it be by breaking down doors to gain entry into residences or leaving behind other messes to clean up.

“In one house they broke into they stole the copper piping. The house was for sale. They left the pump running and filled the house full of water,” he says.

And aside from property damage, many of these thefts are dangerous and it could be just a matter of time before someone gets hurt.

“At a fish plant in Wedgeport they stole high-voltage electrical wire that was live at the time,” Const. Skidmore says, adding it was fortunate no one was electrocuted, or worse.

The RCMP continues to investigate all of these thefts in the hope of halting this activity.