Five copper downspouts worth about $4,500 were stolen Nov. 25 from St. Matthias’ Church, Waukesha, Wis. The theft is the third at the construction site in recent weeks. A few weeks ago, a 28-foot lift valued at $2,200 and used to hoist shingles from the ground to the roof was stolen. A few days after the first theft, thieves made off with six copper elbows designed for the downspouts.
 
In recent years, thieves have brazenly stripped salvage metal off the sides of buildings or raided construction sites seeking scrap metal, which has skyrocketed in value in part due to a building boom in China, India and the Middle East. Episcopal churches have been especially hard hit because they tend to be constructed with quality materials and are well maintained. In many cases, the thefts have occurred at inner-city parishes and the thieves are seeking money for drugs.
 
The thefts at St. Matthias’ are notable in part because it appeared to have been committed by professionals and it is one of the first such incidents reported in a city its size. Waukesha has some 65,000 residents.
 
In an interview with the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Jerry Engler, president of the construction firm retained by the parish, said the thieves avoided damaging the downspouts by drilling out the rivets, leading him to suspect that the downspouts and elbows will be sold to another roofing contractor. Church officials wanted to use copper because its decorative appearance matches the upgrades being done to other buildings in downtown Waukesha.