Three building contractors have been charged with allegedly stealing and selling more than $1 million worth of copper from job sites.
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The trio have been accused of removing copper cabling from construction sites before selling it to unauthorised scrap metal merchants for profit following a three-month police investigation.
Detectives from the NSW Police Financial Crimes Squad attended a scrap yard at Ingleburn, in southwest Sydney, where they recovered about $200,000 in stolen copper in March.
On the same day, police carried out a search warrant in nearby Campbelltown and found a further $105,000 worth of copper cabling.
Two men aged in their 40s were arrested and taken into custody but were initially released, but the duo were later charged with larceny as a bailee.
They appeared in Campbelltown Local Court on Wednesday after being granted bail, while a 32-year-old man was arrested on Thursday and charged with three counts of larceny as a bailee and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime.
He faced court on Friday, when he was also granted bail.
Police will allege that the three men were involved in the theft of more than $2.5 million worth of copper since February.
Financial Crimes Squad commander Gordon Arbinja said police were focused on combating copper theft.
"Stealing copper isn't just hazardous, it's also unlawful," he said in a statement on Tuesday.
"With police stepping up their efforts against copper theft, it's inevitable anyone responsible will be caught ... and that includes scrap-metal merchants."
The charges are the latest following a series of copper thefts in recent months, including during a break-in at an electrical substation on the outskirts of Newcastle in September.
Copper is one of the most sought-after scrap metals and can fetch more than $10 per kilogram.
Australian Associated Press
