Copper roof thefts hit German facilities

Unknown thieves stripped copper roofing from two water storage tanks in the Forchheim district of Bavaria, damaging roughly 45 m² at each site and causing losses estimated at €4,000‑€6,500. Police suspect the same perpetrators and are requesting witness information.

In Dorsten, North Rhine‑Westphalia, a similar theft targeted the copper roof of a kindergarten on Josefstraße, removing about 60 m² of material. The thieves attempted a second robbery the following night but fled when a neighbor reported them. Local police and fire services are investigating, and the school plans to replace the copper with an alternative material.

Both incidents underscore a rise in copper thefts, prompting authorities to seek tips from the public to apprehend the suspects.