Between high demand, all-time high prices and high interest from thieves, plain old lumber has emerged as the hottest commodity of this year's home, deck and fence construction season. Akash Homes has been hit at several job sites this spring, causing losses of around $100,000. After dark, thieves use on-site machinery to load the massive bundles of wood onto their own trailers, Babcock said. "They're hot-wiring zoom booms on sites, taking product from maybe two or three builders in the same neighbourhood," he said. The paint makes the wood identifiable if it shows up on another job site or is advertised for sale online.

Source: CBC News May 17, 2021 11:18 UTC