Brazil Copper Thefts Rose In August, Industry Group Says

Sep 23, 2011 RIO DE JANEIRO (Dow Jones) -- Copper robberies in Brazil rose to 65.5 metric tons in August from July, worth a record 1.2 million Brazilian reais ($655,000), after declining for several months, Brazilian copper association Sindicel said Friday.

In the January-August period, thieves took 254.2 tons, up 4.7% on the 242.9 tons stolen in the same 2010 period, Sindicel said in a statement.

The value of the metal stolen in the eight-month period rose 14.6% from a year earlier to BRL4.7 million, the association said.

Robberies increased even though metal producers are spending more on security, Sindicel said.