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VISTA: Copper theft attempt halts cancer treatments
Without it, outpatient radiation machines couldn't be cooled
By COLLEEN MENSCHING - Staff Writer | ∞
VISTA ---- As many as 65 cancer patients went without radiation therapy Wednesday after a would-be thief ripped out the copper plumbing that cooled the radiation machines at the private, outpatient clinic where they are being treated, police said.
"I have no word for these people," said patient Yulia Alvarez of Oceanside, who takes the bus to Oncology Therapies of Vista each day. "They don't understand how many lives depend on that machine."
The clinic's pipes, recovered at the scene, would have fetched between $300 to $400 at a recycling center, officials said.
Beth Bourbeau, office manager at the Sycamore Avenue clinic, said Wednesday that when she arrived at work, she discovered there was no running water. When she tried unsuccessfully to turn the water on at an outdoor valve, she saw tools and gloves left behind by whomever had yanked out the building's copper plumbing.
With the pipes dismantled, the clinic's large chilling unit was unable to provide the water needed to run its two radiation machines, she said.
Between 60 and 65 people were scheduled to receive radiation therapy at the clinic Wednesday, but none did, Bourbeau said.
Alvarez, in the middle of a six-week course of daily radiation, said she was nervous about missing her Wednesday dose. Bourbeau said missing one treatment was unlikely to have a negative effect on patients.
Plumbers who responded vowed to work through the night to get the operation up and running by Thursday, she said.
The attempted theft reflects a nationwide trend of copper thefts that began in 2005 when the value of the metal doubled in many markets. Thieves have targeted power lines, communications lines and construction sites.
Sgt. Art Wager of the Vista Sheriff's Station called the Sycamore Avenue theft a classic copper crime.
"I don't think this place was targeted simply because it was a cancer clinic," he said. "I think it was targeted because it was a commercial complex that was deserted in the middle of the night."
Bourbeau said she thinks the thief became spooked by something or someone and fled without the copper.
Bourbeau said that repairing the damage to the operation could cost several thousand dollars.
In addition, the clinic lost revenue it had expected to earn Wednesday, she said.
Wager said the Vista detective who recently led an undercover task force on metal theft was headed to the Sycamore Avenue scene Wednesday.
"Somebody knows who did this and they need to call us," he said.
Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call the Vista Sheriff's Station at (760) 940-4341.
Contact staff writer Colleen Mensching at (760) 739-6675 or cmensching@nctimes.com.
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wake up wrote on Jul 30, 2008 8:32 PM:It is time to pay the piper. This country has lived on debt for too long and our economy is getting hammered. We will see more of this especially if we continue to import poverty and desperation from other countries.
Sean wrote on Jul 30, 2008 9:02 PM:These crimes are not being committed by some unemployed banker. These thefts are being committed by some tweaker who would not have a job no matter what the economic situation is. Lets stop making excuses and start reporting suspicious activity to the police.
gimmeabreak wrote on Jul 30, 2008 9:17 PM:When is it time to start enforcement efforts upon those enterprises which buy this "scrap" copper, no questions asked? Kill the demand, and the supply will disappear.
Jason wrote on Jul 30, 2008 10:02 PM:Just go to Lee's and buy it back, I bet its already cut to fit..LOL
good grief wrote on Jul 30, 2008 11:13 PM:I never cease to be amazed by the endless variety of scumbags out and about in the world. These miserable thieves should have the ... them.
Imported Crime wrote on Jul 31, 2008 12:01 AM:Just check the Sheriffs stats on who is stealing all this copper pipe and wires. I'll give you one guess where many of them are from. ...Duh!
Johny On The Spot wrote on Jul 31, 2008 7:45 AM:Sean is right...
It is most likely a tweaker or someone of that ilk who did this. This person would rather steal than work and because of his condition, probably no one would hire him anyway.
I also agree that no matter what the economic situation, this kind of thief would not have a job if there were jobs to be had.
Faux Chuckles wrote on Jul 31, 2008 7:48 AM:Unemployment goes up and petty crime follows. Thats how criminals buy gas, pay for their cell phone bill and send money home to build the family homestead in the old country when there ain't no work.
oside mom wrote on Jul 31, 2008 8:47 AM:This has sadly been happening all over the country. The news had one report of an elderly man who came home after the thieves had left, and unwittingly blew up his own house - and lost his life in the process. We saw locally a man who was electrocuted because he was attempting to steal the copper wire. I've seen several reports from other areas of the country about air conditioners and statues being the favorite targets of copper thieves. It seems these are desperate times....
Boat wrote on Jul 31, 2008 9:09 AM:This is really a sad story because the thieves were obviously too stupid to even know what it was they were trying to steal. Now they have endangered the lives of these patients.
Everyone is right, there needs to be a major crackdown on the scrapyards. But someone also told me that some of this stuff also ends up in Mexico. Is that true?
I was going to suggest that when they catch these weasels that they be sentenced to work in the Chemo Clinic. But, given who they are I don't imagine it would make any difference. Pardon my cynicism.
Wild Kat wrote on Jul 31, 2008 9:22 AM:The theives do not care. I went to this center for treatment a year ago. The patients will be fine, but it is the stress of having to endure another day of treatment when you are counting down the days to be finished. Go after the people who buy this copper and this will slow down these theives...
Concerned One wrote on Jul 31, 2008 9:42 AM:Crack down on the scrap yards. Prosecute both theives and "fences" to the max.
Totally agree wrote on Jul 31, 2008 9:56 AM:Awesome comments by everyone! Hit the nail on the head with who, what, where and why.....NOW what do WE DO about it?
Employment opportunities must now abound for security jobs as businesses want to protection during the 'dead of night'...but who is honest these days? Politicians being indicted, teens (of all races and class) running rampant admitting to home and car thefts (after all the skate parks are closing). Catalytic converters are being swiped by the thousands (precious metal). Require scrap dealers to insist on picture ID for ANYONE who brings in 'scarp' to exchange for dollars. Hey, even the manhole covers in NYC are disappearing! They are heavy! I've long been a 'ban all guns' advocate, but am about to do a flip flop cause no one else is protecting us from what has already been described as scumbags. Economy at fault? Too many freeloaders encroaching 'legal citizen' rights? Whatever it is, it stinks. Solutions anyone?
Tomas wrote on Jul 31, 2008 10:05 AM:This is outrageous! What kind of town is Morris Vance running here? I'm tired and sick of his inaction on crime. He should resign pronto! MUY PRONTO!!
Bogie wrote on Jul 31, 2008 10:45 AM:This has very little to do with the economic state of the union or the nationallity of these scumbags. I had large amounts of copper stolen off construction sites (even cutting down live cable tv/power)in the early 80's. We stopped them dead in their tracks with gaurd dogs. We even caught one poor scumbag who was held at bay all night by one of the dogs until their handlers arrived. The thief was a speed freak.
mr raza wrote on Jul 31, 2008 11:26 AM:faux chuckles
hahaha thats funny ---maybe its just some truck driver who needs gas money for his old truck and his 17 children and wife/sister back at the old trailer park? how about that one!!
to imported crime wrote on Jul 31, 2008 12:46 PM:Where did you find your so called sheriffs "stats"? I think is was your son, nephew, or cousin that was twaked out for a couple of days doing the dirt bro. Check yourself before you wreck yourself!
Faux Chuckles wrote on Jul 31, 2008 1:12 PM:mr raza, you are thinking of El Cajon, but you may be right.
to imported crime wrote on Jul 31, 2008 2:06 PM:I know for a fact that the suspects are mostly White. I'm anti-illegal immigration but the facts are the facts
Well it wasnt... wrote on Jul 31, 2008 2:37 PM:any of the lazy asses who comment on these pages (including myself). I agree that the copper theft in question is really scummy and it would seem to be easy to police the scrap yards.
Most of the copper "recyclers" i have seen are white, late 20's-mid-30, and out of work (for whatever reason). They're the same folks who steal bikes or whatever else is handy. I lived near by such a recycling place but I can hardly call my observations "fact".
During a remodel I actually interupted one guy checking out the bundles of construction materials at my house. Just one of the local white wastoids that hang around drinking Steel reserve beer by liquor stores and riding $600.00 bicycles.
That element of the underclass, from my experience,is mostly white guys.
Alejandro wrote on Jul 31, 2008 3:41 PM:Tomas is right. Morris Vance is the head of city government, and as such is responsible. He needs to resign now. How could he let things come to this?? It's unthinkable! Resign, Morris. RESIGN!!
mr raza wrote on Jul 31, 2008 4:16 PM:all I hear is tweekers tweekers ---well i guess it takes one to know one
Boat wrote on Jul 31, 2008 4:27 PM:Awhile back the NC Times ran a story about catalytic converters being stolen. It said that the thieves were targeting Toyota trucks. Well, since my neighbor has one I showed the article to him. He mentioned it to the folks at Toyota of Escondido when he was there. They told him that they had replaced over 250 catalytic converters since January. Now you tell me, when the thieves take the stolen converters to the scrap yards where do those people think they get them?
beercritic wrote on Jul 31, 2008 4:58 PM:Stupid media - They should have run a story about how dangerous the "radiated copper" was. How whomever took it, or processed it at recycling centers is at great risk unless they seek out medical attention immediately.
The thieves and fences probably aren't too bright.
montana wrote on Jul 31, 2008 6:24 PM:Apparently beercritic doesn't know how to read. The copper was left at the scene and I doubt any radioactive material would be in an area where common thieves could get to it! Talk about stupid.
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