Marina copper thieves impact city insurance rate

Copper thieves who vandalized the Sarnia Bay Marina last April are impacting Sarnia’s insurance rates. Property insurance will cost $577,000 this year compared to $182,000 in 2019.

Copper thieves who vandalized the Sarnia Bay Marina last April are impacting Sarnia’s insurance rates.

Property insurance will cost $577,000 this year compared to $182,000 in 2019.

“The city incurred large property loss claims from the fire at the Sarnia Library and theft of copper at the bayside marina,” finance director Suzanna Dieleman noted in a staff report.

“This represents the overall increase in costs percentage of 217% over 2019 premiums.

Council approved a $1.63-million contract with Marsh Canada in December for general insurance and risk management.

Despite raising the deductible, Sarnia is paying 21% more for all its insurance needs this year.

Damage to the marina docks and pavilion cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and took months to repair.

Police arrested three men and a woman at the scene, but other individuals broke in again shortly after and continued stripping wire.

Theft of copper and other metals from municipal facilities cost Sarnia at least $1 million last year, the city solicitor has estimated.