School district not sweating copper theft from construction site

HARLINGEN -- The Harlingen school district will not be affected by the Monday theft of $50,000 in copper tubing from an elementary school construction site, officials said.

For now, the contractor, Scoggins Construction, is responsible for the site, said Linda Wade, the school system's superintendent.

The school district is not responsible for obtaining insurance coverage for the site or providing security there until the construction company turns over the site to the school system, Wade said.

"When they turn it over to us, we're responsible for that. But for now it's under their umbrella," she said.

A person who answered the phone at Scoggins Construction declined to comment.

The criminals also stole a gas-powered saw and welding equipment from the site, located at 1201 E. Loop 499, said David Osborne, a Harlingen police spokesman.

"They entered a storage building on site and used a gas-powered saw to cut through the high-security padlocks," Osborne said, noting the locks were sliced cleanly in half.

The site is the future location of the Harlingen school district's Lee H. Means Elementary School.

Officials believe the thieves were well organized, because the copper tubes were cut into pieces to be hauled away in a truck or trailer, Osborne said.

Because the tubing is new, the criminals will probably try to sell it at another construction site instead of at a salvage yard, he said. Osborne cautioned against anyone buying tubing "off the street" and urged them instead to purchase it from an authorized seller.

Anyone with information about the theft should call the Harlingen Area Crime Stoppers at (956) 425-8477. Callers may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward, Osborne said.