Scrap metal thieves busy




Water service was shut down for about five hours on Aug. 3 at an office building on Canwood Street in Agoura Hills to repair damage caused by a thief who stole a water flow device and six feet of copper piping from the property.

The incident at the Mediterranean office building at 30423 Canwood St. occurred at about 5:30 a.m.

“The copper pipes were right out in front of the building. They were just pulled out for scrap value,” said Bud Larsen, building manager for the Mediterranean office building.

The theft occurred in the early morning hours. Water shot almost 60 feet in the air and service to the 48 tenants in the building was interrupted until the damage was fixed. The repairs and new pipe cost about $1,000.

Jeff Reinhardt, spokesperson for the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, said the items taken from the Canwood Street property were part of the building’s fire protection system.

More prevalent in the San Fernando Valley, water pipe theft appears to be rare in the Las Virgenes and Conejo valleys.

“We consider this as an isolated incident; it’s the first of its type in recent memory Reinhardt said. “Hopefully this will not be a trend that we see here.”

Lt. Dave Thompson from the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department said the rising value of materials such as copper, steel and aluminum has led to an increase in the amount of metal being stolen throughout the country.

“It’s a problem all over. But we haven’t seen it as much as others because it’s more of a problem where you have vacant housing,” Thompson said.

Law enforcement agencies are working with local scrap yards to educate employees and help identify the thieves who are stealing the metals.

Sylvie Belmond



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