ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOX) – They were married with kids — six men who held down decent jobs, until co-workers wondered how they could afford fancy trips, new vehicles and the latest riding lawn mowers.
The six are now charged with taking part in an elaborate copper-theft ring, targeting an East Alton, Illinois industrial plant that reports $7 million in missing copper over a three-year period.
“Most of them were reported to be living way above their means,” said East Alton Police Major Brian Archer, “Large trips, lots of vehicles, motorcycles, expensive lawn mowers and different types of things.”
The ambitious gang is just the latest example of a nationwide epidemic of copper thieves stripping away gutters, air conditioner coils, plumbing and catalytic converters — anything made of copper – to resell for $3 or more a pound to a copper-hungry world.
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