Police: Burglars stealing copper wiring from vacant homes in Austin

Police are warning resident in the Austin neighborhood of a recent string of burglaries in vacant buildings on the West Side.

In each incident, burglars force their way into an abandoned, foreclosed or empty building and cut holes into walls to remove the copper wiring, according to a community alert from Chicago Police.

Burglars, who are in possession of tools used to cut copper piping, have also stolen water heaters, stoves, furnaces and locks from the buildings, police said.

The burglaries happened between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.:

–between July 9 and Nov. 24 in the 4800 block of West Iowa

–between Nov. 13 and Nov. 19 in the 700 block of North Laramie

–Nov. 19 in the 4800 block of West Huron

–Nov. 20 in the 600 block of North Laramie

Anyone with information on the burglaries should contact Area North detectives at (312) 744-8263.