Copper stolen from UMass site

By Scott Merzbach
Staff Writer

Published on August 08, 2008

More than $2,000 worth of copper was reported stolen from a job site on the University of Massachusetts campus last week.

Deputy Police Chief Patrick Archbald said last Thursday that management for Titan Construction Co. of Amherst, which is completing renovation of the roof at the Goodell Building, reported the theft of 300 pieces of copper weighing about 375 pounds Tuesday at 12:21 p.m.

Archbald said copper is becoming an increasing target of theft because of its value.

Last year, two men were killed in Tyngsboro in Middlesex County when they attempted to steal coils of copper wire from an unoccupied power plant.

Though construction companies typically lock their work sites, such as the scaffolding that Titan has set up around Goodell, the door to the scaffolding area was left open and unsecured for the night when workers left Monday at 2:30 p.m.

This was done so a masonry crew would do its work later in the day.

The 10-inch by 10-inch, 20-ounce copper sheets, which had not yet been attached to the roof, were gone when Titan employees returned Tuesday at 6:30 a.m.

<h4>Toolboxes raided</h4>

Toolboxes left at the work site were also emptied out and tools inside them were apparently used to move the copper to the ground floor and off-site.

Archbald said Titan notified local scrap metal yards about the theft, providing them with a profile of the copper taken.

"We suspect it will be exchanged for cash at a local scrap metal yard," Archbald said.

UMass police are pursuing leads and possible suspects.

In addition, Archbald said police are being increasingly vigilant about job sites on the campus.