By Chad Posick

In recent months the theft of some metals, especially objects made of copper, has received considerable attention in the media. Recently CPSI staff learned of a steep decline in “copper burglaries” in the City of Rochester over the past couple of months. That information prompted the following brief analysis. Copper Burglaries most often involve the removal of copper wire and/or pipe from residential property or the theft of such material from construction sites. Vacant or abandoned properties are especially vulnerable. Nearly eighty percent of Rochester’s copper burglaries have occurred in vacant property and nearly 80% occurred during renovations of that property. Costly damages often result from this offense including flooded basements, gas leaks and walls damaged to gain access to pipes. As the owner of many unoccupied properties, this offense is especially costly to the City of Rochester. In Rochester Copper burglaries showed a generally increasing trend over the past two years. They averaged 30 per month in Rochester and peaked at 59 in September of this year before falling dramatically. There were 17 reported copper burglaries in November, 2008.

Rochester, NY: Center for Public Safety Initiatives Rochester Institute of Technology , 2008. 4 p.