Thieves in the Natchez area have been causing problems as they have taken to stealing copper as the metal becomes increasingly valuable in the global market.

The rise in copper prices, which is currently valued at $4 per pound according to metalprices.com, has been accompanied by a spate of thefts according to Natchez Police Department Lt. Craig Godbold. He comments “Every time (the copper) price goes up, there is a big rise (in copper theft), and a lot more of the reports are turned in.”

Godbold claims the burglars are stripping copper wiring and then melting it down to change its form so that scrap metal companies can’t identify its origin. They then sell it on to take advantage of the price rise.

“(Suspects) melt it into small chunks, so it is not obvious what they’re stealing,” Godbold continued.