Warren's copper thefts not uncommon in Ohio

WARREN — The manager for Warren city schools' building projects said theft of copper from school construction sites is a common problem throughout Ohio.

“In the last two years, since the value of copper and other metals has jumped, there’s been a problem with wiring and plumbing materials being taken,” said Bill Schurman, senior manager for the Carbone, Ozanne and Hammond construction firm.

Carbonne, Ozanne and Hammond oversees several school projects in Ohio including the building of Warren’s five new schools.

Copper has been stolen from the district’s building sites four times, including most recently over the weekend at the new Warren G. Harding High School.

An employee of W.G. Tomko Inc. of Finleyville, Pa., reported that the plumbing materials were taken between Friday evening and Monday morning, when the thefts were discovered.

The pieces weighed 1,200 pounds total, according to the report from the Warren Police Department. Half was tubing and the other half, fittings.

Thieves have stolen copper from the Harding site three previous times and once from the new Lincoln kindergarten-through-eighth-grade building site on Atlantic Avenue Northeast.

For full story, see Thursday's Vindicator and Vindy.com.