Peru: millions in losses due to copper theft from telecommunications and power lines

In the last five years (specifically from 2006 to 2011), the telecommunications companies , Internet telephony and fixed-power distribution and have suffered economic losses estimated at S/.200 million due to the continued theft of cables and equipment, and the high replacement costs they face.

The main losers are consumers, because they are hurt by cable theft affecting electricity and telephone services. Processing companies also copper sulfate, which serves as input in the chemical and food industries.
Of the 7,500 metric tons of copper scrap being exported annually, 5,000 are from illegal and are offered mainly to countries like China and India. Read Article