WASHINGTON – Police are investigating the theft of more than two dozen copper gutters and copper downspouts in the Montgomery County area.
Since November 2011, there have been 26 incidents in Bethesda, Potomac and Rockville of copper theft. Many of the thefts have been clustered in an area inside the Beltway along River Road and south to the Potomac River to the Maryland/D.C. border.
The thefts have occurred at all times of the day and night, police say.
The gutters and downspouts are easily accessible and copper has a high resale value at commercial recycle and scrap metal centers.
A late model beige, bronze or gold pick-up truck has been seen in the area or actually in a victim’s driveway, in several of the thefts, police say.
The suspects have also been confronted by victims on a few occasions. The suspects claimed to be working for a gutter company before leaving.
Anyone with information about these or similar thefts, or the suspects is asked to call the the Montgomery County Police at 240-773-6084 or 301-657-0112.
Anyone who witnesses similar suspicious activity is asked to call the police non-emergency line at 301-279-8000.
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