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Metal thieves hit churches
30/05/2006 10:02 - (SA)
Ottawa - Thieves pried away sections of copper roofs, gutters and wiring from four Quebec City churches over several nights last week, the latest in a string of bizarre thefts across Canada linked to high metal prices, police told AFP on Monday.
The heists, described as the boldest so far, follow thefts of aluminium ladders and soccer goal posts in Vancouver, manhole covers in Montreal and trucks filled with scrap metal en route to foundries in Toronto, police said.
Emboldened thieves have stripped unfinished new homes of their copper piping, stolen park light fixtures, and even wires from hydro and cable companies.
Metal producers such as Alcan and Dofasco have been robbed too.
Higher metal prices
"There've always been thefts like this, but it's gotten much worse in the past year because of higher prices for metals," said Randy Douglas, vice-president of the Canadian Association of Recycling Industries. "They're bigger thefts now too."
He pointed to record prices for steel and non-ferrous metals such as nickel, copper and aluminium - up 20% to 80% in the past year.
The bits of church roofs stolen in Quebec City, the capital of French-speaking Quebec province, likely netted the thieves a few hundred dollars, but the damage will cost up to $50 000 to repair, clergy said.
- AFP
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South Africa
