Copper thieves strike sixth home in Livermore Falls

LIVERMORE FALLS — Police on Tuesday received the sixth report of copper being stolen from a house since July 5, police Chief Ernest Steward Jr. said. All of the houses were entered by force.

This time, it was on Moose Hill Road. It was an unoccupied house that is locally owned, he said.

The home had not been checked for a while. The copper from the plumbing system located in the basement was stolen within the past 30 days.

In this case, the thieves rummaged through the house and took other items, Steward said.

The stolen copper is valued at an estimated $500 and the damage done to the house is estimated at $300.

On Monday, police received a report of copper taken from a Pleasant Street house. The copper in that case is valued at $1,000, Steward said.

Other houses that have been broken into are on Sewall, Wheeler and Knapp Streets.

More than $1,800 in copper has been reported stolen within the month, he said.

“They have all been forced entries,” he said.

The houses have either been vacant or the residents have been away from the property.

“Evidence has been collected at the scenes and taken to the Maine State Crime Lab for DNA analysis,” Steward said.

Sgt. Vern Stevens and officer Stephen E. Gould are investigating the thefts.

Police are asking people to be alert and if they see anything suspicious and know that someone is not living in a house or is away, they are asked to call police at 897-3424. If it is a burglary in progress, Steward said they should call 911.

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