Small Town News
Copper wire stolen from hospital construction
Email
Print
Tweet
CopyMore than 65,000 feet of copper wire was stolen sometime over the weekend from the construction site at Coulee Medical Center.
The value of the copper wire was about $10,000, Police Sgt. John Tufts said.
A storage compartment across the street from the new hospital was broken into by cutting a lock at the back of the storage unit.
Police photographed both footprints and tire tread marks.
The wire was on spools, and one spool was found in the weeds near the storage area.
Copper wire is popular among thieves who burn the protective coating off and sell the copper for scrap.
Several scrap outlets were contacted but said they weren't taking scrap copper wire.
A recycling business in Okanogan said it pays 15 cents a pound, but that is well under the market price.
John Strickert, of Coulee Recycling, said the going price of burned off copper wire is about $1.70 a pound and copper wire with the coating still on about half that.
"We can't buy over 30 pounds of copper wire without getting the person's name and the type of car their driving," Strickert said.
Workers found the door of the storage shed open Monday when they went there to get wire for the new construction job.
Copyright 2010 The Star, Grand Coulee, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.
© 2011 The Star Grand Coulee, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.
More from The Star