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Police suspect a rise in the price of copper has prompted a spate of thefts of hot-water cylinders from homes in Rotorua.
Cylinders and copper piping orwiring are being ripped from homes being renovated or while people are away.
In December alone, eight hot water cylinders have been stolen from residential addresses and five other thefts of copper pipe or wire have been reported in Rotorua.
In Taupo in the past two months, businesses have been targeted for copper wiring.
The price for household-grade copper used in hot-water cylinders is $5 a kilo in Rotorua, compared with $3.90 in Tauranga.
A copper hot-water cylinder can sell for between $40 and $70, depending on its size.
Sergeant John Cassidy of the Rotorua police said most of the thefts happened at vacant residential addresses.
He warned holidaymakers to make sure their homes were secure and someone was keeping an eye on them while they were away.
"The local scrap metal dealers have been very helpful with our inquiries. But this is not just a Rotorua problem, it is going on all over New Zealand because of high copper prices."
Mr Cassidy said Rotorua police had arrested three people in relation to thefts of cylinders and copper but there were at least two others in the local community whom they were watching.
A Rotorua scrap metal dealer, who did not want to be named, said he had noticed an increase in copper trading in the past month.
"We all know where they are getting it from. They are stealing it. Copper prices are quite high at the moment," he said.
Rotorua Neighbourhood Support co-ordinator Barry Fenton said it was a fairly easy job for thieves to remove hot-water cylinders.
"These guys are not particularly subtle. They will use a jimmy bar or just kick the door open to get inside. From there they use a hacksaw to cut the pipes and just rip them out," Mr Fenton said.
He said the thefts were happening in all areas of the city.
- DAILY POST
