Why do Pikeys steal copper pipes?

[Gromit]

Every time I have a skip in the drive, five in the morning till about seven vans with our travelling friends do the rounds and have a rummage through. Anything metal especially copper is taken. They've even taken the grate in the drain. Anyone know what do they do with the metal?

 

[tamz]

When i was an apprentice a couple of the tradesmen were on about how they could get some scrap for the holidays as they were skint. One came up with the brilliant idea to remove the caps from the bundles (20ft), cut a foot off and put the cap back.
Guess who got the job of that one. Around 20 or so bundles (everything that was there) were left at 19ft