CENTRAL TEXAS (KXXV) — Temple police are investigating a significant copper theft involving electrical wiring valued at approximately $300K. Since January, police have recorded 36 copper theft incidents, with many occurring at new home construction sites.

Bobby Poitevint, Senior Neighborhood Reporter for 25 News, took a deeper dive into the copper theft issue and spoke with Steve Sorrells, President of Sorrells and Co., a local home builder and developer. Sorrells has seen hundreds of homes constructed in Central Texas over the years.

“When I got your call today, I did a text round of a bunch of my builder friends and my electricians, see what they’re experiencing in and around the area,” Sorrells shared. “So far, knock on wood, we’re blessed we don’t have anything real recent as far as copper thefts go.”

In his 26 years of experience, Sorrells has had only about a dozen reported thefts. He attributes the rise in copper thefts to factors like drug-related issues and fluctuations in precious metal prices. "You’ll see an increase in thefts depending on how the economy is doing, when people are more out of work and that sort of thing — turning to trouble," he explained.

Technological advancements, particularly in surveillance, have helped combat theft. Sorrells shared his own experience: “There’s fairly simple camera systems that we’re able to install on all of our job sites — it’s the Reolink system. I can look at it on my cell phone and pull it up and take attendance on what’s there and who’s there.”

Sorrells says technology has helped catch criminals, even one case where a neighbor was caught stealing copper from one of his job sites. The Temple Police Department is investigating this case, while other local police departments, including Waco and Killeen, are also working to address the issue of copper thefts in the area.