From street signs to copper piping, metal theft continues to be an issue in towns and cities around Vermont. While taking and destroying public property is certainly not a new phenomenon, law enforcement officials say they have seen a significant rise in metal thefts since the price for scrap metal has shot up in recent years.
The problem of stolen street signs became such an issue in Thetford this spring that the select board considered replacing the stolen aluminum signs with less-costly signs made of fiberboard.
And this week, Williston Police Sergeant Justin Huizenga warned business owners to guard against metal thefts in an article in the department's new newsletter, WPD Blue Light News.
Metal thefts continue to be an issue. Police encourage business owners to secure any valuable metal as best as they can preferably inside. Often potential metal thieves will survey a business during the day and return that night if they see something of value. Police encourage you to call them with any suspicious vehicles you might see around business parking lots.
School buildings have also been targeted by metal thieves. This spring more than a half-ton of copper was reportedly stripped and stolen from the basement ceiling of the former Mount Anthony Union Middle School building, in Bennington. Utility companies such as Green Mountain Power and FairPoint Communications have reported widespread copper thefts as well.
