Police warn about thefts of copper downspouts in certain neighborhoods throughout Richmond
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Richmond Police Department is reminding the public about a recent trend that they've seen getting worse in recent days. Officials with the department say that over the last couple of months, criminals have been targeting houses and stealing copper downspouts. Police told 8News that people are stealing downspouts from people's homes in areas like The Fan District because the mechanism is made out of copper, which can be valuable. Sally Bacon, a resident of The Fan, said she captured home security video of someone ripping her downspout right off her house. “I am surprised that it's still happening,” Bacon said. During a December Community Walk in the area, Sgt. J. Morgan Brown with Richmond Police said that, at first, people didn't know they were being targeted. “We are still concerned about what has gone on in the area here," Brown said. Brown also said that the information about the thefts came about during a previous meeting. Those gatherings are vital to the safety and well-being of the neighborhood, according to Brown. "Actually, this came about due to a community meeting that we had in the area back over a month ago," Brown said. "This area had an uptick in just copper thefts and motor vehicle thefts at the time. A lot of the citizens were not aware that their accomplished drainpipes had been stolen." In the video captured by Bacon's security system, a person can be seen walking up to the house and trying to twist the downspout out of its connection on the roof before getting on their bike and pedaling away. “Oh, it makes me feel, like, less comfortable having everything on my porch, to be honest,” Bacon said. Bacon says that this happened at the end of October. However, police say the problem is persisting and it's not only in the Fan District but in areas like the Museum District as well. “I think the problem lies with the people that are buying the stolen goods. And when I say stolen goods, I mean the copper downspouts. But they're the issue,” Bacon said. “There's somebody that's buying these, so that is leaving the thieves to continue to steal them.” The Richmond Police Department is still investigating Bacon's incident as well as the thefts that occurred in December in the Museum District.
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Richmond Police Department is reminding the public about a recent trend that they've seen getting worse in recent days.
Officials with the department say that over the last couple of months, criminals have been targeting houses and stealing copper downspouts.
Police told 8News that people are stealing downspouts from people's homes in areas like The Fan District because the mechanism is made out of copper, which can be valuable.
Sally Bacon, a resident of The Fan, said she captured home security video of someone ripping her downspout right off her house.
“I am surprised that it's still happening,” Bacon said.
During a December Community Walk in the area, Sgt. J. Morgan Brown with Richmond Police said that, at first, people didn't know they were being targeted.
“We are still concerned about what has gone on in the area here," Brown said.
Brown also said that the information about the thefts came about during a previous meeting. Those gatherings are vital to the safety and well-being of the neighborhood, according to Brown.
"Actually, this came about due to a community meeting that we had in the area back over a month ago," Brown said. "This area had an uptick in just copper thefts and motor vehicle thefts at the time. A lot of the citizens were not aware that their accomplished drainpipes had been stolen."
In the video captured by Bacon's security system, a person can be seen walking up to the house and trying to twist the downspout out of its connection on the roof before getting on their bike and pedaling away.
“Oh, it makes me feel, like, less comfortable having everything on my porch, to be honest,” Bacon said.
Bacon says that this happened at the end of October. However, police say the problem is persisting and it's not only in the Fan District but in areas like the Museum District as well.
“I think the problem lies with the people that are buying the stolen goods. And when I say stolen goods, I mean the copper downspouts. But they're the issue,” Bacon said. “There's somebody that's buying these, so that is leaving the thieves to continue to steal them.”
The Richmond Police Department is still investigating Bacon's incident as well as the thefts that occurred in December in the Museum District.
