More Than $40,000 of Copper Wire Stolen From Ontario Construction Yard: OPP

Wiring sits stripped of its copper interior after an incident of theft in Los Angeles, Calif., on April 4, 2024. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

More than $40,000 worth of copper wire was stolen from an Ontario construction yard, police say.

A “substantial quantity” of copper wire was removed from heavy machinery, including multiple rock crushers and conveyors that were stored in the rear of a construction yard in Temiskaming Shores, about 500 kilometres north of Toronto, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said in a July 17 social media post.

On June 11, police responded to a report of theft that allegedly occurred sometime between July 6 and July 11.

The material stolen is estimated to be worth more than $40,000, and the total loss is expected to be higher when factoring in repair costs and machinery downtime, police say.

Meanwhile, two copper thefts allegedly occurred early in the morning on July 14 and July 16 at a communications tower in a small community just outside of North Bay, Ont., OPP said in a July 17 social media post.

Police are asking any members of the public with information related to these incidents, such as sightings of suspicious activity or individuals in the area, to contact Temiskaming OPP or North Bay OPP, or submit anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers.

Those providing information about the communications tower incident may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000, North Bay OPP say.

Hydro Poles

Another copper wire theft occurred in the Temiskaming area in May, where four individuals allegedly cut 33 decommissioned hydro poles to steal the copper wiring, police said in a July 8 social media post.

The theft allegedly happened between May 1 and May 7, and Temiskaming OPP have estimated the value of the stolen copper wiring to be more than $100,000.

A joint investigation by Temiskaming OPP, the Regional Crime Unit, the Forensic Identification Services, the North East Emergency Response Team, and the Regional Intelligence Analyst led to the laying of several charges, including theft over $5,000, mischief over/under $5,000, trafficking stolen goods, and possession of stolen goods for the purpose of trafficking.

Two similar incidents occurred in Dufferin County in May, police said in a May 21 social media post.

Dufferin OPP responded to a break and enter at a property in the Township of Mulmur, where suspects allegedly cut down utility poles and stole around 300 metres of copper wire. Another 150 metres of copper wire was stolen in the same area on May 10, police say.

OPP estimated the stolen copper wire and related damage to be valued at approximately $180,000.

“The Dufferin OPP are asking for the public’s assistance in preventing these types of thefts, which can disrupt essential services and impact local residents,” the post reads. “Please report any suspicious activity, especially vehicles parked along rural roads late at night near utility infrastructure.”

Stiffer Penalties

In December 2024, federal officials said copper wire theft was on the rise in Canada, but said that it’s difficult to prevent since the infrastructure usually lacks basic security.

RCMP Chief Supt. Peter Tewfik said these incidents are difficult to predict or stop since the sites where these thefts occur typically do not have fencing, lights, cameras, or patrols.

He added that these incidents are also difficult to investigate since stolen copper can be melted down before it’s recycled and sold, which removes identifiers like serial numbers that police would be able to use to trace a wire back to its source.

Canadian telecommunications companies have been calling for stiffer penalties for copper wire theft, as well as new rules to limit the thieves’ ability to resell the material.

In December 2024, Bell Canada and Telus Corp. executives told the Senate’s transport and communications committee that the issue continues to wreak havoc on emergency services and business operations when their networks are disrupted.

Bell Vice-President of Public Affairs Michele Austin told the committee that the incidents are having a “profoundly negative impact on Canadians and the economy.”

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.