According to an interview with an investigative official, a couple arrested and charged with invading a closed accommodation facility in Shiga Prefecture stated that they had repeatedly stolen at more than 10 facilities aiming only at water taps. understood.
The faucet is made of copper, which is soaring due to the influence of the new coronavirus, and the couple resold the stolen faucet.
Unemployed in Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture, Kazuo Okura (40) and his wife Hiromi (34) were arrested and charged in May for invading a closed accommodation in Higashiomi City, Shiga Prefecture. ..
According to investigators, the two men repeatedly stole more than 10 facilities in Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture, which store cultural properties, in response to subsequent investigations, aiming only at taps made of copper. It means that you are making a statement.
The facility in Nagahama City was previously used as a recreational facility in the prefecture, and it is suspected that the two had stolen more than 20 faucets such as bathrooms without touching the stored cultural properties. ..
The two have stated that they had invaded accommodation facilities in the Kansai and Chubu regions to steal faucets and resell them in order to earn living expenses.
The price of copper has soared worldwide due to expectations for economic recovery due to the spread of the new coronavirus vaccine, and reached a record high in May.
Police are calling attention to a series of faucets all over the country, such as the case where a large number of faucets were stolen in Kanagawa Prefecture in May.
Metal handling company "Purchase price doubled in one year"
According to the metal traders in Shiga prefecture, most faucets are made of an alloy of copper and zinc for easy processing.
"The price of copper has risen sharply since the beginning of the year, and the purchase price of faucets has doubled compared to last year," said the vendor.
Expert "The impact of soaring prices Corona"
Copper prices hit a record high in May and have remained high since then.
Regarding the background, Mr. Satoshi Yoshida of Rakuten Securities Economic Research Institute, who is familiar with the metal market, said, "China accounts for about half of the world's copper consumption. China has recovered from the effects of the new corona virus, and economic activity is active. There has been a growing expectation that copper consumption will increase as a result. "
In addition, "Monetary easing in the United States and other major countries has increased funds to the general public due to the economic recovery from the new corona, and some of them have flowed into the copper market where prices are rising. It was a factor pushing up the price. "
On that basis, regarding the outlook for the price of copper in the future, "If environmental problems are urgently needed in various countries around the world and decarbonization progresses, it is expected that the demand for copper will increase further due to the progress of electrification of electric vehicles and the like. The price is long-term. It is thought that the price will rise gradually. "