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Published on January 9, 2008

A recent television news report showed thieves wearing hoods trying to cut copper wires at a train station.

The robbers steal the copper to sell but they cause more problems than the actual theft, as copper wire is used in telephone and power-supply systems. The thefts have caused blackouts and disruption of some public services.

Although the copper market in traditional metals markets such as the US has been slow, demand in Asia has been growing. The price of copper on the futures market has been steadily rising and this has led to a black market in the metal.

Thieves may or may not be aware of the international market situation, but it is certain they are making a good living from their illegal activities.

Cutting the thick copper wire used in power-supply systems is not easy and can be fatal. If thieves cut wire from transmission pylons without protective gloves, they are risking their lives, as the wires carry high-voltage electricity.

Apart from copper wire stored in railway sidings, electricity substations and on transmission pylons, some enterprising robbers have even stolen copper from churches where there is virtually no security.

Some have become tomb raiders, digging up graves in search of lucrative pickings.

Last year, thieves broke into a cemetery in Australia and stole items made of copper worth 16,000 Australian dollars (Bt459,000).

In Thailand, copper theft is also rampant in temples.

A host on a Channel 9 morning-TV business news programme said recently that during a visit to a temple upcountry he had visited many times before, which was well known for a row of a dozen metal bells, he found that all the bells had gone.

The host thought that the temple had put the bells away for safe keeping, but he found out later that they had all been stolen.

 

jeerawat@nationgroup.com

The Nation