Alabama City Forms Special Unit to Probe Metal Thefts

Police in Anniston, Ala., say it wasn’t hard to spot the stolen aluminum which had been sold to a scrap yard — the pieces were the in shape of fire hydrants.

Thieves had stolen the fire hydrant molds from Swafford’s Machine Co. in downtown Anniston and chiseled down the logos on them.

The Anniston Star reports that the crime is part of what has been a growing trend of metal thefts in the east Alabama city.

Police investigators Kyle Price and J. Hartley make up a special investigative unit to look into such crimes.

Anniston police Sgt. Josh Doggrell said the unit was launched earlier this year in response to high rates of metal and copper thefts.