Sigbjørn Lærum is production manager at NG Metall. Here, people and companies can come to sell metal. Now the kilo price for copper is NOK 80. And there are many who stop by. But many are also rejected. The company does not buy metal if they suspect it is stolen goods. And they often have the suspicion. – It can be several times a week. – And this has been going on for several years? – Yes, it has been going on for several years, says Lærum. Because copper theft is something that happens all over the country. The expensive metal is sought after by criminals. At the end of July, an entire wall on the roof of the chapel at Østre gravlund was stripped of its copper plates. This is the second time the chapel has been subjected to copper theft, according to the Oslo police. The Civil Service Agency warns that it could cost up to NOK 1 million to repair the damage. A tarpaulin has been put up over the bare wall which has lost its copper plates. Photo: Nadir Alam / news Dressing up – Stealing copper from the wall of a chapel, I can hardly imagine anything more despicable. That’s what Sigmund Clementz, head of communications at the insurance company If, says. He says the thieves are professionals and know how to remove the copper quickly. – And it is often the case that those who steal this dress up as construction workers or other service workers. Communications manager at the insurance company If, Sigmund Clementz, suspects that stolen copper is sold both in Norway and abroad. Photo: Nadir Alam / news Clementz says it could be people from the local community, whom the police know, or organized criminals from abroad. – They can get hold of everything from copper from cable reels, copper gutters, to precious metals in catalytic converters. And adds: – Rhodium, palladium and titanium are very expensive on the world market, and that puts a lot of money in the wallets of the thieves. These copper hinges were sold to NG Metall by a company. Photo: Nadir Alam / news At least 20 thefts this year In news’s overview of copper thefts or attempted thefts there are at least 20 cases this year. The thieves most often operate in Eastern Norway, but there have also been cases in Rogaland and Southern Norway. On 15 July, several drums of copper wires were stolen from a business at Jessheim in Akershus. Some of the drums were found at the home of a person who admitted the theft. The month before, a tonne of copper was stolen from a business in Tysvær in Rogaland, which was to be sold to a scrap dealer. The value of this was NOK 50,000. And in Gjøvik, two tonnes of copper were stolen from a business in May. Use the map to see where the thefts occurred around the country: Overview of copper thefts in Norway so far this year. The thieves come back to sell At NG Metall, there is a lot of copper that they have bought in, both from private individuals and companies. The metal is resold and remelted for reuse. Often it is about metals that people have lying around at home that they want to get rid of. And things from estates or remains from building sites. Many private individuals come in with copper vases, dishes and teapots which they sell. Photo: Nadir Alam / news But uncovering stolen goods is difficult, says production manager Sigbjørn Lærum. – If they come with something completely new, for example, then you can be a little skeptical as to why that person comes with a brand new drum of good cable. Then you can be skeptical. Production manager at NG Metall, Sigbjørn Lærum, encourages everyone who has expensive metals stored outdoors to take better care of it. Photo: Nadir Alam / news Lærum also says that they themselves have experienced expensive metals being stolen. – Here they come masked in the evening and try to take things with them. And some of the thieves return to the scene to sell the stolen goods back to the company they stole from. – We have suspected that a number of times. The Oslo police have not had the opportunity to appear for an interview with news about copper thefts. Published 05/08/2024, at 16.22
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Copper thieves dress up as construction workers and they most often steal copper in Eastern Norway – Greater Oslo
