Copper may no longer be used to make Canadian coins, but thieves who target the valuable metal still cost British Columbians a pretty penny.
The rose-coloured hardware is found in electrical wiring, transformers and pipes, and can be sold for anywhere from $2 to $4 per pound — making homes, construction sites and public infrastructure a prime target for thieves.
The safety risks theft carries were made painfully clear earlier this year, when RCMP said theft-weakened copper gas lines in downtown Prince George caused an explosion that sent three people to hospital, one of whom sustained severe burns all over her body.
