[font=Arial]WIRE, TUBING STOLEN FOR VALUABLE METAL[/font]

[font=Arial]The relentless demand for construction materials in [/font][font=Arial]China[/font][font=Arial] is having an unexpected ripple effect locally: Thieves are ripping into walls and air conditioning units of vacant buildings to strip them of valuable copper wire and tubing that eventually end up overseas.[/font]

[font=Arial]PG&E also reports a rise in copper thefts from some of its utility yards, particularly around [/font][font=Arial]San Jose[/font][font=Arial] and [/font][font=Arial]Santa Cruz[/font][font=Arial].[/font]

[font=Arial]Among the incidents reported to area police this year:[/font]

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