Thieves Steal Copper Piping from Smuttynose

Hampton police are looking to the public for help in solving a recent copper pipe theft at the site of Smuttynose Brewing Company's new Hampton brewery and restaurant on Towle Farm Road.

Lt. Tom Gudaitis said "approximately 40 feet" of copper piping was cut out of the in-construction multimillion-dollar facility between the night of Friday, April 12, and the early morning hours of Monday, April 15, while no one was on the premises.

Gudaitis said what was "unusual" about the theft is that the installed copper pipe was "high up in the air" — at least 10 feet, which meant the thief or thieves had to use a ladder or lift of some kind to access the pipe and cut it loose, he said.

The scrap value of the piping wasn't available Tuesday. Gudaitis said it's possible equipment on the site was used to remove the pipe.

Copper piping and copper wiring thefts are a common type of crime, although Gudaitis said he isn't aware of whether the Smuttynose theft is related to any other recent incidents in the area. He did say, though, that a Hampton Beach cottage owner did come back earlier this year to check in on his property and found that someone had stolen the copper pipes from beneath the cottage.

It was unknown Tuesday whether Smuttynose's construction webcam captured the suspects in the act, and Gudaitis said his department is looking for leads.

Gudaitis asked anyone with additional information about this or any other crime to contact the Hampton Police Department at 929-4444.

Anonymous tips can also be left with the Crimeline for the Hamptons at 929-1222 or hamptonscrimeline@yahoo.com. Rewards of up to $1,000 cash are available for tips that lead to the apprehension and conviction of the suspect(s).