said by kruser :

Someone stole the copper flashing off of my Aunt's home while they were home eating dinner!
They heard this horrible noise and by the time they came outside to see, the thieves were running down the street with sheets of copper trailing behind them.
And this was well over 30 years ago!

I know many contractors and home builders in my area and I can say that I hear a new copper theft story about once per week. Mostly copper plumbing ripped out of new or rehab construction.

At my work a thief stole over $20,000 worth of direct burial irrigation control wire.
Turned out he ws caught and also one of my night employees.
He had sold the wire for scrap and at that time received just over $5,000 for it as scrap.
This was about 1 year ago.
He is now behind bars