Copper thieves hit skating rink

• BUSY DAY AT THE RINK: Despite the copper theft and warm weather, the River Market rink was in full blast this afternoon, with a long line waiting to buy tickets.

If not for crime news, there’d be no news at all.

Police say that sometime between 10 p.m. last night and 7 a.m. this morning, some stole 20 feet of heavy-duty copper wire that powered the ice skating rink under the River Market Pavilion 1. The wire, three inches in diameter, was said to be worth about $1,000. No suspects in the theft.

The theft did disrupt ice skating, however. A River Market spokesman said the rink closed for repairs this morning and then reopened at 1 p.m. Meetings continue on how to safeguard the rink in the future. It is scheduled to be open through Jan. 8.