Some scrap yard owners say thieves are cashing in on the high price of scrap metal, and homeowners are paying the price.
Officials say the theft of gutters in Plainfield is on the rise. Chuck Cuttaia, who runs Plainfield Metal Recycling, says crooks are stealing and trying to sell aluminum, copper and brass items.
?They can make themselves about $200 to $300 on a load of aluminum, maybe even more,? Cuttaia says.
According Cuttaia, a shortage in Asia is driving up the price of metals in the U.S. Cuttaia says he turns away walk-in clients and watches customers on camera in an attempt to curb thefts.
Officials say most of the thefts are happening at homes that are under renovation. Community leaders recommend residents mark gutters with names or serial numbers, so they can re-claim them if they turn up at a scrap yard.