Copper Pipe Theft Sparks Gas Leak At West-End Home
Posted November 11, 2010 7:35 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Thieves targeting copper piping came dangerously close to causing an explosion at home near Bathurst Street and Glencairn Avenue on Tuesday.
Police say after breaking into a house under renovation on Glen Park Avenue, burglars cut and stole copper piping, inadvertently severing a gas line to the furnace.
When officers arrived, gas levels in the building were higher than 40 per cent, which could have caused a massive and deadly explosion.
Authorities say they’ve noticed a spike in copper and vehicle thefts in the area bounded by Lawrence and Eglinton avenues, Bathurst Street, and Caledonia Road.
“It is becoming a bit of a trend,” said Det. Sgt. Savas Kyriacou of Toronto police.
“There was a potential for an explosion in a predominantly residential area. It could have had some grave consequences.”
The street value of a pound of copper is currently about $3.10.
