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Thieves targeting copper pipes at Evanston churches
Updated: February 12, 2013 7:22PM
EVANSTON — Police are looking for the thieves who stole large copper pipes from at least two Evanston parishes.
Most recently the thieves stole about 75 feet of copper downspouts during two separate robberies at St. Athanasius Parish in the 2500 block of Ashland Avenue in Evanston, said Evanston police Cmdr. Jay Parrott.
The thieves hit the church “overnight or in the dark” late Feb. 6 or early Feb. 7 and again late Feb. 8 or early Feb. 9, Parrott said.
The pipes were between buildings and have a total value near $3,000, Parrott said.
Police are investigating if the same thieves could be responsible for copper downspout thefts at St. Nicholas Parish in the 800 block of North Ridge Avenue in Evanston, Parrott said.
The thieves also hit that parish multiple times in the past months, Parrott said. The value of the copper pipes stolen from St. Nicholas Parish is about $3,000.
“Primarily they seem to be taking them off the older, historic churches,” Parrott said. “The value of copper itself is one of the higher paying metals for scrappers.”
Police believe the thieves are targeting churches because there are not many people around overnight, Parrott said.
There is no description of the thieves, but Parrott said the pipes are at least 15 feet long and would need to be transported by truck.
