Thieves strike machine sheds throughout Christian County

TAYLORVILLE Police are appealing for help from the public as they hunt thieves who have stolen tens of thousands of dollars in copper wiring and tubing from storage sheds all over Christian County.

The latest pair of crimes was reported Tuesday, bringing the number of burglaries to 22 in the past two months. Police estimate the value of the metals and other materials stolen as more than $75,000.

Christian County Sheriff Bruce Kettelkamp said evidence recovered from the crime scenes leads detectives to conclude the same gang is responsible. He said its likely they are searching for potential targets during the day and then returning at night to burglarize the buildings. He wants people to call in who see strange vehicles in their neighborhood or any suspicious activity.

These burglaries are happening all over, Kettelkamp said. Were talking from one side of the county to the other. And the buildings targeted are not remote; theyre often close to residences. The thieves are being pretty bold.

Stored supplies of copper wire and tubing are most frequently stolen and are typical of the materials found in farm sheds or storage buildings used by welders and electrical repair shops.

One of the places they got into last night had close to $12,000 in copper taken, the sheriff added. The owner is an electrician, and he had all this equipment stored in a machine shed by his house.

Kettelkamp said police have alerted scrap yards in the area where the copper might be sold. He also said much of it is covered in insulation, which would have to be burned off; such fires give off intense black smoke, and Kettelkamp wants the public to call in if they see one.

He believes the thieves are approaching the buildings through fields to avoid driveway alarms and urged shed owners to have alarms and install motion-activated lights and security cameras. He said the thieves fled from one building because its alarm scared them off.

And the best thing to do would be to get a dog, he added.

The Christian County Sheriffs phone number is (217) 824-4961.

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Thieves strike machine sheds throughout Christian County