Metal thieves steal kids' slides, toilet roof

By Miho Yoshikawa

TOKYO (Reuters) - Children's slides, incense holders from cemeteries and even the roof of a public toilet have disappeared in a spate of metal robberies in Japan prompted by surging steel and copper prices.

Last year, there were about 5,700 such robberies in Japan causing damages worth some 2 billion yen ($17.27 million), and the number of cases is rising, media reports said citing the National Police Agency.

There were four incidents of metals robberies on Sunday alone, including the theft of 550 kg of copper wire worth some 330,000 yen in Gifu prefecture, central Japan, media said.

Last month, thieves stole two stainless steel slides from parks in Saitama prefecture neighboring Tokyo.

"There were bolts scattered around the area, and the steps for the slides were left behind," a town official said.

"We don't know how heavy they were, but I think it must have taken at least two people to take them away," he added.

Industry officials believe the metal was stolen to be sold as scrap to China, feeding a construction boom as Beijing prepares to host the 2008 Olympics.

An official at the Japan Iron and Steel Recycling Institute said demand for scrap metal was strong both on the domestic market and overseas markets in China, South Korea and Taiwan.