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Colorado Springs Police are trying to find out who is behind a string of copper thefts from sprinkler systems on city property.
In one week, nearly a dozen backflow devices from sprinklers have been cut off and stolen. Police say thieves are motivated by the high price of copper. The cost has skyrocketed from about 70 cents a pound in 2003 to about $3.50 a pound today.
"Copper thefts over the past year have definitely been on the increase," said Dave Gilman, a crime prevention officer with Springs Police.
This time thieves hit sprinkler systems along some fairly busy roads like Rangewood Drive. "A lot of times when we've had contact with them in the past, they drive trucks that may be white in color, that look similar to a city truck. So they're trying to blend in as much as they can," said Gilman.
The parts cost as much as $400 each. Along with the man-power to replace them, that costs the city, and therefore taxpayers, thousands.
At city-owned Evergreen Cemetery, boxes were installed over the above-ground irrigation system back in 2000, and they've worked. But other metals are targets, too. They're bracing for a different kind of metal theft-- those taken right from gravestones. Veterans are the most common targets.
"We've been hearing, especially on the east coast about people stealing bronze plaques, and a lot of times for veterans they use bronze plaques," said Will DeBoer, manager of Evergreen Cemetery. He said, "Eventually, everything creeps out west, so its something we're definitely on the lookout for."
He is sounding the alarm now so that visitors will also be on the lookout.
"Its as low as you can get, and the problem is, cemeteries are so vulnerable that we rely on society to take care of us, but in a world where people don't respect life, its hard for people to even respect death," he said.
As crews repair sprinkler systems, they are putting gates over the copper parts. Police say, that may not always stop thieves, but it could slow them down long enough to make catching them more likely.
If you see something suspicious, try to take down a license plate number, and call 444-7000.
