Someone took 193 pieces of pipe from the Idaho Falls Water Department and police are wondering why.
The water department discovered the missing pipe sometime last week and reported it Friday, according to a news release.
The pipes were stored outside at the department's Hemmert Avenue location.
Although the pipes' replacement costs are estimated at $8,000, their recycling value is very low, Idaho Falls Police Department spokeswoman Joelyn Hansen said.
""It's not good for scrap metal because it's cast iron, so we don't know the motive,"" Hansen said.
Pacific Steel & Recycling in Idaho Falls accepts metal products, including cast iron.
Cast iron can be cashed in for $40 a ton, said Mike Denning of Pacific Steel & Recycling. He said metals like steel are more valuable and can be bought for $150 to $190 a ton.
""Unless someone had something in particular to use (the pipes) for, they would have been disappointed in the amount of money they would get from it,"" Denning said.
Denning said cast iron contains air pockets, so when it's melted down, it weighs much less than regular steel, making it less valuable.
Police had no suspects in the crime Monday. They are still investigating how the suspect entered the facility, Hansen said.
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