A few years ago, when I was living on Beacon Hill, I heard a “thunk” from the front of the house. Went out to investigate and saw a couple of young black males running down the street with one of my downspouts. I decided to chase them and recovered it, but by then it was bent and twisted beyond repair. I ended up using a “faux” downspout of aluminum painted black.

About the “Copper gone” sign. I know it happens, but does anyone have good numbers? I suspect public mania, similar to “identity theft”. I have it on good authority from the fraud dept. of a credit card company(but about 10 years ago) that 80% of “identity theft” is by members of your family. The card companies recover most of it because the parents would rather pay than have their kids in trouble with a larceny charge in their backgrounds. Suburban police will tell you the same about “Burglaries” reported after the kids steal mom’s jewelry. So, if someone tells you about being victimized by “identity theft” or “burglary” ask if they have kids and watch their faces.

Many such agencies are created to “clear the books”. When cities own too much property by tax foreclosure, or other means, they create a Redevelopment Agency. The property is then transferred to them and the city no longer owns it. Looks better that way to the casual observer. City can report they have “put the property to productive use”.

Frequently they wait until they have assembled a large enough parcel to interest a large developer. It is then offered for sale. This is known as “Parcel Assembly”.