A large spool of copper wire valued at $50,000 was reportedly stolen from the construction site of the new Mortimer Jordan High School campus on Bone Dry Road in Kimberly last week, according to Kimberly police.

“Copper prices are up per pound and a thief can get a quick couple hundred dollars from a scrap dealer,” said Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Randy Christian. “The damage done is usually in the thousands and far outweighs the money they are getting.”

Christian said churches, schools, strip malls and vacant homes are usually the targets.

“We have even made arrests where suspects were climbing telephone polls stripping wire,” he said. He also said the sheriff’s office has made 10 to 15 arrests in the last two weeks alone on copper related thefts.

Kimberly police say the $50,000 estimate came from a representative from GCI Electric Corporation. The case is still under investigation.