Copper theft rises on soaring prices

ALBANY (Scrap Monster): In Albany, more thieves are eyeing on copper as an easy and profitable commodity to rob.

Burglars are getting good returns on the risk they take thanks to soaring copper prices. Traders say copper prices haven't been this high in a long time. That means more crooks are looking for an easy payday.

In recent weeks, Albany police have busted several alleged copper thieves. Many are stealing entire air conditioner units or swiping from construction sites and taking them to recycling yards, mysouthwestga.com reports.

Recycling plants in the region say they get one pound and up to 5 or 600 pounds of copper at a time, sometimes even more.

An Albany police detective Timothy Harvey said that some people who in a week can get a couple of thousand dollars, it just depends on how much weight-wise they could steal.

Many plants have started constant surveillance and are alerting law enforcement of all their sales to try to deter thieves, mysouthwestga.com reports.