This Sure Doesn't Sound Like a Place with a Housing Shortage

Empty Richmond houses attract metal thieves

Thieves are breaking into abandoned Richmond residences to steal valuable metals such as copper and aluminum, RCMP said on Tuesday.

It's so common it's called urban mining.

The thieves break into empty homes and take copper pipe and wiring, radiators, appliances and aluminum-framed doors and windows for the metal to sell to scrapyards.