Thefts of copper wire, tubing and other items are relatively commonplace in recent years, but most do not affect as many people as the one reported Wednesday at East Lake Elementary School. Thieves who took some of the copper from the air-conditioning system there forced a change in the school's schedule. Students will be dismissed at 12:30 p.m. until the damage is repaired.
The early dismissal is understandable. It's difficult for teachers to teach and students to learn when temperatures are in the 90s. What's a bit harder to understand is why copper is such an attractive target, and why thieves would stoop to vandalize the school.
There's a market for copper scrap, of course, but it is not an especially lucrative one given the penalties tied to its theft. Jerry Harris at Chattanooga Scrap Metal says copper currently is bringing "about $3 a pound." That's more than some other metals, but thieves rarely get a huge amount of the material in a heist. A school official says the East Lake thief or thieves probably got $50 worth of copper. The cost to the school will be considerably more.
Karen Hollis, operations director for Hamilton County Elementary Schools, says the system will pay far more than the theft could have netted -- between $10,000 and $20,000 in parts and labor -- to restore East Lake's air conditioner. That cost analysis is not unusual.
Most of the schools' expense will be covered by insurance. Indeed, many copper thefts are similarly covered, but that does not mean the public is unaffected. Those with coverage can recoup some of the loss, but often are responsible for deductibles and face the possibility of a premium increase or loss of discounts following a claim.
Copper thieves favor sites where the metal is always present but people are not. The East Lake theft is typical. It apparently occurred sometime after personnel left the building on Tuesday and before they returned Wednesday morning. Vacant homes and businesses -- with air conditioning units outside and ready-for-the-taking copper wire and pipes inside -- and churches, cell phone towers and power substations also are targeted. Indeed, copper thieves have caused the temporary loss of both electric and cell phone services in many communities around the country.
Deterring the theft of copper and other metal is a work in progress. Diligent policing helps. Since thieves generally sell their loot to scrap dealers, it also helps that the law in Chattanooga, and in many other jurisdictions, requires dealers to see an ID and get the thumbprint of a seller and record the tag number, make and model of their vehicle. There's also a mandated waiting period before payment is made. The rules reportedly have been a useful adjunct to law enforcement officials.
Still, the lure of easy money is attractive to thieves. Unfortunately, ordinary, law-abiding folk -- like the students and staff at East Lake Elementary -- must bear the consequences of their reprehensible acts.