PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — After a string of reported thefts of copper piping from vacant homes, the Presque Isle Police Department and Aroostook Crime Stoppers are asking for the public’s help in locating suspects.
“We have received several complaints in the past couple of weeks concerning thefts of copper piping from abandoned or vacant homes,” the Presque Isle Police Department said in a Facebook post.
The department estimated that about 1,000 copper connectors with an estimated value of $5,500 were stolen from homes with the aim of selling them for scrap metal at a much lower value.
Presque Isle Police Chief Laurie Kelly said the agency is not currently releasing further information due to an active investigation, but that some of the stolen copper has already been recovered in Caribou.
Maine law requires scrap metal buyers to keep records on purchases and take a seller’s photo identification and other information.
Anyone with potential information on the copper thefts can call the Presque Isle Police Department at 764-4476 or Aroostook County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-638-8477.
