(June 24, 2008)

SAN PATRICIO COUNTY--In San Patricio County, there has been a dramatic increase of copper theft in recent months. One business owner, a victim of these crimes, has decided to turn the tables on the copper thieves.

Authorities in San Patricio County report copper thefts from Mathis to the coastline. While businesses can improve its security system, another company is taking a different approach.

Aransas Pass Police showed us its latest seizure from a copper theft investigation. It's copper tubing and wiring found during a search of a home. Officers said these crimes have spiked recently.

"People have been going into locations grabbing copper or whatever they can grab," said Capt. Robert Gonzalez with the Aransas Pass Police Department. "Tubings, wires or any type of wire they can get their hands on."

The San Patricio County Sheriff office reports the same trend. Authorities said criminals are doing this for a reason.

"People also have an increase in gas prices," said Sheriff Leroy Moody of the San Patricio County Sheriff's Department. "They have an increase in drug usage. We believe the money is being used for both."

MMR Construction in Ingleside has been targeted several times by copper thieves. So the company is putting up surveillance camera pictures of the criminals right in front of their office location.

"So either I catch the guy or if I don't catch the guy, then maybe I'll embarass him based on all his friend and he won't come back," said Jim Guidry, who is the District Manager for MMR Construction. 

Since they started doing this six weeks ago, they said one person has been caught, while officers continue to search for another suspect. They also said the crooks have stayed away from this location.

"Whether I'm going to catch him or not, I don't know, but I think it's a good deterrent," Guidry said. 

Deterrent or not, it's good for business.

--Manuel De La Rosa, Area 3 News, mdelarosa@kiiitv.com