Detroit Edison is
raising the amount it will pay for information leading to the arrest of copper
thieves.
Michigan-based Detroit Edison announced today that it was raising
the amount it will pay for information leading to the arrest of copper thieves.
The utility will now pay $2,500 for information on copper
thieves, and up to $5,000 for those buying stolen copper.
Detroit Edison power lines and transformers in southeastern
Michigan have recently been the target of thieves who are willing to risk their
lives to obtain the copper they contain.
With the price of
copper near all-time highs, similar thefts have been reported across the country.
"We
have to put a stop to copper thievery," said Michael Lynch,
DTE Energy chief security officer.
DTE Energy is Detroit Edison's parent company.
"This is a dangerous activity for the
people stealing copper, but also for the people affected by power outages
caused by copper theft," Lynch said. "As recently as last week, we had 4,000 feet of power
lines stolen from one location alone.
“The
danger and service reliability factors associated with copper theft makes this
a substantial problem,” Lynch added. "Thefts are progressing in frequency,
blatancy, danger and even death, as we’ve witnessed in the last several months.”
