COLDWATER, MI — Police are searching for the person who stole nearly $100,000 in copper from American Copper and Brass at 100 S. Michigan Ave. last weekend.
A new video was released showing the theft of the trailer used to haul the stolen copper.
Security video shows the suspect arriving in an SUV at The Storage Bin, 170 East Chicago Road, stealing a U-Haul trailer used to haul copper and scrap.
The theft occurred between 11:30 p.m. Saturday and 1:45 a.m. Sunday.
The U-Haul trailer theft provided a clearer image of the suspect.
Coldwater Public Safety Director Joe Scheid said scrap yards were alerted. He noted that most materials can be melted, making them hard to track.
This is one of several thefts reported in southern Michigan over the past four months.
Copper prices hit $6.00 per pound and scrap values reached $4.35 per pound in early 2026, making copper an attractive target for thieves.
The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office is searching for two men who cut locks at River Forks Solar Park in Sheridan Township. Bad weather stopped the theft and they fled.
This was the third break-in at that location in the past month.
Previously, thieves stole a zero-turn mower, power tools, and copper wiring.
Thieves stole copper piping from a fire station construction site in Dexter, Washtenaw County, in November 2025.
The most serious theft occurred in the Flint area, Genesee County, between late 2025 and early 2026. Police are searching for suspects who stole copper wires from Lake State Railroad crossing gates, creating dangerous, inoperable conditions for traffic.
Police said stripped copper is difficult to trace, and criminals target locations with high-voltage, accessible wiring.
American Copper and Brass is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to an arrest or recovery of the property.
Anyone with information should contact Detective Sgt. Sarah Gunneman at (517) 278-4525 or the Branch County Sheriff’s Office at (517) 278-2325 regarding the U-Haul trailer theft.
Contact Don Reid, dReid@USATodayCo.Com
This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: New videos of suspect released in weekend Coldwater copper theft
Reporting by Don Reid, Coldwater Daily Reporter / Coldwater Daily Reporter
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
