Copper Thefts Rampant in the Twin Tiers

The theft of metal to sell as scrap seems to be on the steady increase throughout the Twin Tiers.

For example, City of Binghamton police are reporting over a dozen cases of the theft of metal, especially copper, from various neighborhoods in the past month.

Authorities say most of the incidents concern break ins at vacant properties, although, recently, police arrested a dripping wet man on the West Side as he became soaked cutting out pipes from a Chapin Street property.

Several other larcenies of metal have been reported around gas drilling sites as well as seasonal cabins that are often left vacant with no one checking on them for months.

Residents are advised to keep an eye out for suspicious people or activity in their neighborhoods, especially around unoccupied properties and make sure anything they own that could be stolen and sold for scrap is out of sight and locked up.

Any suspicious activity should be immediately reported to police.