Water Meters Stolen in Vacant Japanese Public Housing as Copper Prices Rise

The theft of water meters used to measure household water consumption is spreading across Japan. Authorities suspect many water meters are being stolen for resale because they contain copper, whose price has climbed sharply in recent years. 50) to ¥2,000 when resold.

Local governments are urging residents and scrap metal dealers to stay alert. Officials say effective countermeasures remain elusive, particularly because many thefts target vacant apartments in public housing complexes and other multiunit buildings. The Japan Times reported that the pattern has become widespread enough to prompt coordinated appeals from municipal authorities.

In Shizuoka Prefecture, 449 water meters were reported stolen in March and April. The 449 stolen water meters in Shizuoka Prefecture came from municipal housing complexes and other properties across seven cities, including Shizuoka and Fujieda. All of the thefts in Shizuoka Prefecture occurred in vacant units and were discovered only after water leaks and other problems emerged.

The timing of the discoveries meant that many thefts went unnoticed for weeks or longer. Thieves apparently removed the meters from empty apartments without immediate detection, leaving pipes exposed. Water leaks eventually drew attention from maintenance crews or neighboring residents, at which point the missing meters were recorded.

Copper prices have climbed sharply in recent years, giving scrap metal dealers an incentive to accept the devices despite their specialized origin. The Japan Times reported that the resale value, while modest per unit, becomes attractive when multiplied across hundreds of thefts.