Camden parks go dark because of metal thieves - New York News | NYC Breaking News

Camden parks go dark because of metal thieves

The lights are out in a growing number of Camden, N.J. city parks.  Officials are finding that metal thieves have taken copper wires used to electrify the parks.

Officials also say school buildings have been stripped of air conditioning units by scavengers.

Last year, the fire department of the cash strapped city had to pump water from a river several blocks away from a huge warehouse blaze because hydrants had been stripped.

Selling scrap metal and wires is a major source of income for the homeless and others.

A 2010 FBI report says that copper theft could be hurting national security.  A key judgement of a report says:  "Copper thieves are threatening US critical infrastructure by targeting electrical sub-stations, cellular towers, telephone land lines, railroads, water wells, construction sites, and vacant homes for lucrative profits. The theft of copper from these targets disrupts the flow of electricity, telecommunications, transportation, water supply, heating, and security and emergency services and presents a risk to both public safety and national security."

A National Insurance Crime Bureau report says that metal thefts have increased 81 percent since 2008.

An organizer of next week's planned Peace on the Street party in Camden tells The Philadelphia Inquirer that it's hard to find a suitable location for the event,

The Associated Press contributed to this report.