Sassari: A man caught stealing a downspout escapes; copper thefts continue in the city.

A downpipe thief, discovered by residents, escapes during the night in Sassari . Yet another misadventure for residents of the historic center and surrounding neighborhoods, who have seen pipes disappear from their homes in recent weeks. A man armed with a screwdriver was dismantling the structure outside a house on Corso Vico a few days ago, waking the residents. They promptly came out, interrupting the "work" and causing the thief to escape, who disappeared with part of the loot on Via Sant'Apollinare. Subsequent intervention by the State Police did not lead to the thief's recovery.

The plundering of city drainpipes is now evident in several streets, including the Capuchin Monks' Street, where more gutters have vanished. Copper is a hot commodity, with its price rising, and it seems someone is looking to capitalize on this.