British bases warn of growing spate of copper thefts
The British bases (SBAs) police have issued a warning to farm, home and business owners to secure their properties following a recent increase in thefts.
According to a statement released on Wednesday, 42 cases were reported between April and August this year, with copper being a primary target for criminals.
Dhekelia CID inspector Fanos Christodoulou explained that the value of copper, currently estimated at around €6,500 per tonne, has made it an attractive target for thieves who sell it to scrap metal yards. The thefts often involve copper wires and machinery containing the material.
“We are seeing the increase in theft of copper wires, tools and any other machinery that contains the material, so people need to be vigilant and secure their property,” Christodoulou said.
One of the most vulnerable groups are farm owners, who keep large amounts of tools and machinery in agricultural areas, where thieves can move in the dark, undetected.
“Farmland appears to be an easy target for thieves as they can move at night and the majority of the time, people don’t tend to lock up their equipment in these areas.
“This needs to change and we advise everyone to make their items less accessible to steal. By taking measures like locking up your tools in a secure box, or installing CCTV, this will make you less vulnerable,” the inspector said, adding that investing in security is a good investment.
The SBA police undertake regular patrols but their job is hampered by the vast amount of rural land within the Dhekelia area.
“We rely heavily on our good contacts within the villages in the Eastern SBAs to tackle this problem. We cannot be everywhere, all at once, so we need help in catching thieves,” Christodoulou said, urging people to report any suspicious activity to the SBA police.
“Thieves will target any items they can and we have seen the theft of solar panels, car batteries, boilers and generators as they all have a value.
“If it can be stolen, it is a target, so we must all work together to keep the areas we live and work in safe for one another.”