Thieves Expand Their Horizons

 

In 'Scrap Yards Are the New Pawn Shops,' I noted that the fallout from "rampant greed, reckless speculation, and failed policies" had triggered a growing rash of thefts of wire, drain covers, and other metal products that were being sold to dealers for quick cash. If the following reports are any guide, today's hard times have also spawned an illicit interest in a range of items that have not been traditionally targeted by criminal elements:

"Thieves Steal Utility Poles Out of the Ground" (The Sun Times)

Three hydro poles that were in the ground and hooked to wires were stolen from along Rd. 49 in the Municipality of Grey Highlands.

The pressure treated hydro poles, 40 feet in length with a combined value of about $1,800, were reported missing Tuesday morning by Hydro One staff. The poles, were taken from Rd. 49, south of Grey Rd. 4, between South Line A and Conc. 4 sometime in the past three weeks. The base of the poles had been placed in holes and the lines attached, though the holes had not yet been backfilled nor had the power been activated, though there was the possibility of slight phantom voltage, Grey County OPP said in a news release.

"Given the length, girth and weight of these poles the person or persons responsible would have needed heavy equipment to remove and transport them.

"Thieves In Chatham Targeting Air Conditioners" (CBS)

Residents of the Chatham neighborhood have been put on notice to keep an eye on their air conditioners.

Thieves have been sneaking into back yards and crawling onto rooftops to steal entire central air conditioning units.

As CBS 2’s Kristyn Hartman learned, a rash of central air theft on the South Side prompted one neighborhood to put out a warning.

"Thieves Steal Hot Air Balloon, Trailer" (My Fox Atlanta)

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - A hot air balloon is missing and Gwinnett County police are asking for your help.

They say thieves took off with a hot air balloon and its trailer sometime Monday night from a driveway in Lawrenceville.

"Stolen Ammonia Tank Found -- Empty of Hazardous 1,000-Gallon Load" (Mlive.com)

MENDON — A 1,000-gallon tank of anhydrous ammonia stolen from a farm field in Leonidas Township Saturday was found Monday afternoon on Longnecker Road north of Mendon, empty.

Sandy Spence, assistant manager of Crop Production Services, the company that owns the tank, said the tank was full when it was stolen.

She said it appeared that none of the product had leaked during transfer, suggesting “obviously the person knew what they were doing.”

The theft is still believed to be the work of manufacturers of the street drug, methamphetamine, Spence said.

"Asheville Police Investigate Stolen Outdoor Furniture from Marco's Pizzeria" (Citizen-Times.com)

ASHEVILLE — City police are investigating the theft of outdoor furniture from Marco's Pizzeria, 1854 Hendersonville Road.

Four metal tables and 16 chairs were missing from outside the business Friday morning. Owner Marco Lacagnina said the furniture, purchased about four weeks ago, was secured with locks.

"It's hard enough with the economy the way it is and all the restaurants we have in this town," he said. "You try to do the best you can, then someone does something like this to you."

"Police Investigating Funeral Home Burglaries, Drug Overdoses" (KRISTV.com)

CORPUS CHRISTI - It may not be a street drug that you hear about often, but emergency room doctors at Spohn Memorial say over the past couple months they have seen a sharp increase of patients overdosing on embalming fluid.

Just last night police say 3 teenagers were hospitalized after they may have inhaled the stuff. Police say the boys were found at a home in the 300 block of Jackson Place in various stages of distress, talking incoherently, and even putting up a fight with paramedics as they tried to administer aid. Officers say they also found marijuana in the home.

In a separate investigation police are also investigating two burglaries at Maxwell P. Dunne Funeral Home on Morgan where formaldehyde was the only thing stolen in both incidents.

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