Crime Network Behind Massive Copper Heists, Cops Say
Aug. 2, 2010— -- Police in at least three states are becoming alarmed that a sophisticated ring of thieves is pulling off spectacular large-scale heists from warehouses and somehow are quickly getting the goods out of the country.
The primary target of the thieves is copper, massive amounts of copper, at a time when the price of the metal is rising.
"It's the new gold rush," said Lt. James Perry of the Carrollton, Ga., Police Department which is investigating one of the heists.
But the gang is also believed to have swiped a warehouse full of high end electronics, and authorities told ABC News they feel certain the group is behind even more crimes, as they have just recently begun connecting all the dots.
"Oh yeah, I'm sure they've done more," Sgt. Bill Shaw of the Largo Police Department, which is also probing a huge copper theft, told ABC News.
The robberies, seemingly pulled straight from Hollywood, span from Texas to Florida, according to police, and the known haul so far totals close to $2 million.
"They appear to be a highly sophisticated ring," Shaw said.
Shaw in fact made an ABC News reporter calling him for an interview about the gang prove his identity, fearing the reporter was in fact a member of the crime ring trying to gather intelligence on the investigation.
The gang's activities caught the attention of federal investigators as a result of ABC News' questions and the FBI has joined the hunt.
"I think you guys rattled their chains," Perry said, referring to the feds.
John Horn at the U.S. Attorney General's Office in Atlanta, said their office as well as the FBI are now looking into the Carrollton case.
"We are evaluating this theft and working with the Carrollton Police Department as well as the FBI to look at the case," Horn said in a written statement to ABC News.
