Up to 3 years in prison for copper theft in the Southwest

In this investigation carried out following a "resurgence of metal thefts" in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, fourteen members of the Roma community were referred to the Bordeaux criminal court after burglaries of businesses and the tearing of operator cables, which occurred between 2022 and 2024.

Only three of them, who were detained, appeared in court: the two burglars, brothers-in-law aged 37 and 27, and the receiver, a repeat offender aged 35. All three admitted the facts, and arrest warrants were issued to apprehend the absentees.

The prosecution had requested up to four and a half years in prison.

"Yes, I made mistakes, I had problems in my family, I wasn't working," the eldest of the brothers-in-law, nicknamed "Cornici," admitted through a translator.

"The money earned was immediately spent on food," said the youngest, nicknamed "Americanu."

"These gargantuan meals haven't been seen before," the president quipped. "You say these are necessity flights, but it looks more like you're making money with copper in France, then going back to Romania, and then coming back," she said, describing "bundles of cash" displayed on the social network TikTok.

According to the prosecution, the copper was burned to remove identifiable sheaths and then resold.

"In this case, it is very difficult to know who is doing what, who is hiding behind the names on the registers of the purchasing companies, who will benefit from these funds," argued Julien Plouton, lawyer for the receiver nicknamed "Rich."

A recycling company based in Haute-Garonne, which purchased these 45 tonnes with a margin of 45.000 euros, was also being prosecuted.

"There was no real control" over the origin of the copper, the prosecutor accused in her indictment.

"I formally reminded (the employees) that burning copper was forbidden, it is heresy for the profession," replied the CEO of this company of 150 employees, who was acquitted.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, some 2.100 copper thefts were recorded in 2024 in the gendarmerie zone (96% of the territory) and more than 200 perpetrators were arrested between January 2023 and October 2024.