Copper wire theft on the rise in Ontario’s inner cities [Video]

Durham Police are reporting an increase in theft of copper wiring, especially from air conditioning and heat pump units in downtown Oshawa.

“We’ve seen a growing number of copper thefts,” DRPS said in a new release, in response to a rise in complaints, both to the Oshawa police station and on social media platforms, about the rising number of often brazen thefts from local homes and businesses.

In the first 11 days of March alone police made several arrests, including a man who dismantled several units at a residence on Simcoe Street and stole copper and aluminum, and a drone-assisted bust of three men trying to steal copper from the Bell Canada cable yard on Boundary Road.

More recently downtown residents have complained on Facebook about a rash of thefts from residential units, sometimes taking place in broad daylight, prompting some residents to try and protect their units with cages.

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