Thieves turn metal into gold

Despite plummeting metal prices in August, local law enforcement agencies have continued to be plagued by thieves who are targeting county businesses and residents for scrap metal.

Lt. Joseph Weeks, of the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office, said that due to an increased demand for metal in Asia, which has inflated prices, thieves are stealing construction equipment, pipes, and even a lawn mower, to sell for scrap.

According to data from the London Metal Exchange, which tracks world-wide price trends within the metal industry, Copper was selling for $3.565 a pound Sunday, down from as much as $4.09 in late June. The average price of copper in 2000 was 84 cents a pound.