Copper cable thieves in Peine: 20,000 euros in damage to the construction site!

Copper cable thieves in Peine: 20,000 euros in damage to the construction site!

On the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, the town of Peine was once again shaken by a brazen theft of copper. Unknown perpetrators struck heavily at a construction site on Theodor-Heuss-Straße and stole over 235 meters of copper cable worth around 20,000 euros. The incident occurred between Tuesday 5 p.m. and Wednesday 7 a.m. and the thieves were able to escape undetected. The police currently have no clues about the identity of the perpetrators and have started investigating in the hope that the public can provide valuable information. Anyone who has seen something can contact the police in Peine on 05171/9990 and help clarify the matter.

But such thefts are not isolated cases. According to a report from Deutsche Welle, metal thefts are on the rise in Germany, indicating an increasingly pressing problem. In 2022, copper theft caused a shocking 6.6 million euros in damage. This year, 2,644 trains have been affected by such incidents, resulting in over 700 hours of train delays. Copper is particularly in demand, especially due to the increasing demand for electrical devices and electric cars - around five to nine tons of copper are required per megawatt of wind energy. The forecasts indicate that a demand of around 700 million tonnes of copper is expected over the next 30 years.

Organized crime and increasing demand for copper

As WDR reports, there is an alarming pattern in the thieves' approach. It is suspected that organized groups are behind these acts, as large quantities of stolen goods have to be transported away. Jens Flören from the Federal Police Directorate in Sankt Augustin explains that there are both organized perpetrators and lone wolves, including often drug addicts who need money for their needs. While Deutsche Bahn has seen a decline in metal theft thanks to new security precautions, construction sites and private buildings remain particularly vulnerable.

Many scrap metal dealers have already taken measures to protect themselves. They are trained to recognize stolen parts and regularly forward reports of theft. They record important information about the crime scene, the time of the crime and the type of metal stolen. The use of artificial DNA to identify metal parts is also becoming increasingly important. Anyone who observes metal theft should not hesitate to call 110 immediately.

The challenges for the industry

The situation is made even worse by the increasing difficulties in finding new copper deposits. Geopolitical risks make procurement even more complicated. Ralf Schmitz, general manager of the Association of German Metal Dealers and Recyclers, reports that it is becoming increasingly difficult for metal thieves to sell their loot in Germany. Therefore, the loot could flow abroad while customs monitoring appears to be insufficient.

The Hamburg copper manufacturer Aurubis also reports massive damage due to theft. The combination of increasing demand due to the energy transition and the existing protective measures will continue to shape the situation in the industry. One can only hope that the police in Peine will soon track down the perpetrators and that such brazen robberies will be a thing of the past in the future.