Calgary police crack down on copper wire theft
Chief Rick Hanson says police going after buyers
CBC News
Posted: Jan 23, 2013 4:24 PM MT
Last Updated: Jan 23, 2013 8:39 PM MT
Calgary Police Chief Rick Hanson says investigators are going after people who buy stolen copper wire as well as people who steal it.
It is estimated theft of copper wire and other metals for scrap costs Calgary businesses millions of dollars every year.
"We're cranking up the heat," said Hanson on Wednesday.
He says thieves would not be able to sell the wire if people did not buy the stolen material and create a market for it.
Calgary police have set up an investigative unit dedicated to copper wire thefts.
"The message today is that we will go hard after those that continue to buy it. We're covering all the bases on this one," said Hanson.
He warned scrap dealers who buy the material, they can face serious charges.
Share Tools
Big Box Advertisement
Latest Calgary News Headlines
- Teen's death sparks call for social services information
- The Alberta government wants to see changes on how provinces share information about children under the protection of social services. more »
- Southern Alberta braces for heavy rainfall, snow
- With Calgary and many parts of southern Alberta expecting a lot of rain over the next few days, officials are telling people to take some precautions. more »
- Calgary school board staff's $15K New Zealand trip questioned
- Calgary's public school board says a $15,000 trip to attend a conference on thinking in New Zealand for its chief superintendant Naomi Johnson and two staff members was worth it. more »
- Alberta's pest list includes 60 critters
- Many Calgarians are finding that squirrels, birds and other critters are starting to find homes in their backyards as summer approaches, but some may be surprised what animals Albertans can get rid of legally. more »
Must Watch
Top News Headlines
- Toronto mayor fired chief of staff for telling him to 'go away and get help'
- CBC News has learned the details of what precipitated the firing of Mark Towhey as Toronto Mayor Rob Ford's chief of staff — and it was advice from Towhey that Ford needs to 'get help.' more »
- Federal Court won't remove MPs over robocall allegations
- The Federal Court says it won't throw six MPs out of their seats over allegations of widespread vote suppression through automated robocalls in the 2011 federal election. But Judge Richard Mosley did find that fraud occurred in the election. more »
- Alleged Ford crack video seller not responding to calls
- The journalist who broke the story alleging Toronto Mayor Rob Ford was recorded on video smoking crack cocaine says he may never be able to get his hands on the evidence. more »
- Bridge collapse on Washington interstate drops cars into water
- An Interstate 5 bridge over a river north of Seattle collapsed Thursday evening, dumping vehicles and people into the water, the Washington State Patrol said. more »
- Alberta's Wildrose Party fined $90K for robocalls
- Southern Alberta braces for heavy rainfall, snow
- Teen's death sparks call for social services information
- Calgary school board staff's $15K New Zealand trip questioned
- Alberta's pest list includes 60 critters
- Rain, snow in K-Country prompts rescue of school campers
- Fever medicine for infants, children under recall
- Calgary man charged with murder in 2012 killing
- Calgary teen found dead had been in provincial care
Big Box Advertisement

