Copper is big business these days — for thieves.

As the price of the not-so-rare metal has climbed, building sites, utility poles, construction companies and businesses are being targeted and stripped of copper, which is then sold to area metal dealers at prices that lately have been hovering around $2 per pound after peaking a few months ago at $2.25.

[Read](http://www.newsleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070813/NEWS01/70813001/1002/rss01 “Read the Story”) (Staunton News Leader)