Copper gutter theft on the rise

The combination of rising copper values and a less than fantastic economy, has no doubt contributed to a nationwide rise in copper gutter thefts. People have come home to find large sections of their gutters missing, sometimes up to 10-20 foot pieces are gone from the sides of their roofs, along with all their downspouts.

The downspouts are easy prey as they can be reached from the ground and can be torn off, unfortunately causing damage to the house at the same time. If you have a neighbor that has copper gutters, you may want to keep an eye on their house, or if you have copper gutters, ask your neighbors if they will watch your house. There have been cases in Virginia, in broad daylight, where thieves have actually pretended to be working on the gutters and when confronted, fled the scene. A few watchful eyes could save you or your neighbor, a fair amount of money and damage to their home.