What is Metal and Wire Theft?
Metal theft is a growing and challenging problem that tends to be underestimated. Both local and international supply and demand strongly influence wire and metal theft. Local wire and metal theft problems can be linked to international demand and high prices.
Thieves target all kinds of metals. Theft can include catalytic convertors 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 metal (such as spools of wire) stored outdoors.
Costs due to damage done by theft to commercial, residential, or City property can easily outweigh the value of the stolen items.
How Does Metal and Wire Theft Impact You?
• 911 service disruptions
• Threats to infrastructure and public safety (hospitals, emergency response systems)
• Power outages – eg. Electricity, heating, street and traffic lights, highway advance warning signs
• Communication systems such as phone, television, and internet service outages
• Increases to service costs and added resource demands
What to Look For
• Smell of burning rubber (indicates thieves burning insulation off stolen wire)
• People digging under roadways or underpasses for metal tubing
• Covers removes off street light poles or junction boxes
• Wires hanging our of covers or compartments
• People transporting odd or large amounts of wire or metal
If You See Wire or Metal Being Stolen Call 911
If you witness a person loitering at a power of street light pole, even with an identifiable uniform, call the non-emergency number to request police to verify the work being done, or call the agency the employee may represent.
→ Emergency 911 For crime in progress
→ Crime Stoppers There are four ways to leave an anonymous tip:
Talk 1.800.222.TIPS (8477)
Type www.solvecrime.ca
Text Tip Text “BCTIP” and send your tip to CRIMES (274637)
Facebook www.facebook.com/metrovancouvercrimestoppers
→ BC Hydro Report all suspicious activity near substations, transmission lines, distribution boxes, and under bridges 1.877.311.8611
→ Telus 604.310.3131 (phone line repair) Information provided by the BC RCMP www.bc.rcmp.ca
