Copper theft a growing issue in Houston

The latest in urban plight: copper theft. HPD Captain Caesar Moore, who oversees the burglary and theft division, told KUHF that they see about 250 metal-related thefts a month. Oftentimes, the copper is stolen from air conditioning units at churches, and Moore explained how this typically goes down:

Usually it's drug related. They'll steal an air conditioning unit, the metal out of it and they may get $40 up to $80 for the copper parts out of it. Once they use that up in drugs then they go and do it at another location a typical thief of this nature does it three or four cases a week.

The majority of these thefts occur in the Heights and the third and fifth wards. And they're no small matter: Moore said that over three years in his position, he's seen the price of copper more than quadruple. Police recently nailed three copper thieves who operate in Houston. They are suspected of stealing the more-precious-than-you-thought metal from churches, businesses and residences. One was caught after police saw him riding a bike and carrying copper wire and was later identified by a witness, and another was charged with assault after he hit a man with a brick during a burglary. A third man pled guilty to accusations of six copper thefts and has been sentenced to 10 months in jail. He told police that he made his living by stealing.

In September, an ordinance will go into effect that requires anybody who sells copper to scrap yard to have a license and fingerprints on file. Texas is just one of 20 states to pass laws this year dealing with rampant copper theft.