Deputies: Watch For Suspicious Behavior Around Unoccupied Homes, Businesses

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. — Oakland County Sheriff’s Office deputies are looking for groups of thieves who have been stealing copper piping.

The crooks have been mainly targeting unoccupied buildings.

In the past three months, sheriff’s deputies took 45 reports of stolen copper throughout the county.

Deputies at the Rochester Hills sub-station have already charged one man after catching him breaking into a business in January.

Other thefts occurred at unoccupied houses listed for sale.

Many of them are foreclosed homes.

In Rochester Hills, the majority of the houses with missing copper showed no signs of forced entry.

It appears that some of the thieves may have access to the lockboxes which are placed on the homes by real estate agents.

Deputies said the Copper can be sold for around $3 per pound.

The sheriff’s office encouraged neighbors to report suspicious behavior or vehicles in their neighborhoods, particularly near unoccupied houses.

“We have had great police work to catch some thieves but we need people to actively engage in watching their neighborhoods and workplaces for suspicious activity-they are in the best position to know when something is out of place,” said Sheriff Mike Bouchard.

If anyone has information regarding these thefts, they are asked to call 1-888-TURN-1-IN.