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Colorado Springs Cops Bust Suspected Copper Thieves

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) -- Colorado Springs police have arrested five suspected copper thieves believed responsible for nearly $2 million in stolen and damaged property.

Police Detective Jerry Yeager tells The Gazette that the men targeted air conditioning units, selling the copper coils at scrap metal yards. Police think the five are responsible for about 90 percent of the copper thefts in Colorado Springs over the last year.

The men are suspected of picking abandoned and vacant buildings, including some in shopping centers.

Yeager says the suspects slipped up by returning to the same scrap yard too often. A worker there recognized a man from previous sales and called police.

All five were arrested on suspicion of felony theft and criminal mischief and are being held on $100,000 bond apiece.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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