Why is copper wire theft so lucrative — and what can be done about it?
Experts and metal scrappers say the province needs more than current laws to counteract the metal's persistent allure and keep people safe from damaged wires and gas pipes.
![Why is copper wire theft so lucrative — and what can be done about it?](https://i.cbc.ca/1.6945423.1694139194!/cumulusImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/prince-george-explosion-scene.jpg)
![Piles of rubble and debris at the site of an explosion at a building in downtown Prince George. Taken Aug. 23, 2023. Crews sift through rubble in the aftermath of an explosion and fire.](https://i.cbc.ca/1.6945423.1694139194!/cumulusImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/prince-george-explosion-scene.jpg)
Experts and metal scrappers say the province needs more than current laws to counteract the metal's persistent allure and keep people safe from damaged wires and gas pipes.