SAUGUS – A Department of Public Works crew was called to Emory Street early Friday morning to turn off the water after a thief broke into a vacant home and began cutting out the copper piping.Anthony Ager, 24, of 7A Jasper Street, was arrested around 10:30 p.m. Thursday after police discovered him trying to steal the copper out of the vacant home.Police Lt. Michael Annese said the house was in foreclosure and was empty, but the water had not been shut off. Once Ager began cutting out the pipes, a flood ensued.With the increasing value of all precious metals, copper theft has become a fast-rising crime.Police were called to Ballard Street last Saturday when another thief attempted to steal the copper piping out of the defunct restaurant in the middle of the day.Annese said the problem is not endemic to Saugus; he is seeing similar incidents happening in a growing number of communities.Annese said Ager was charged with breaking and entering at night, which is a felony, larceny, having burglary tools and destruction of property over $250.DPW Superintendent Joseph Attubato said he was floored by the call.”I couldn’t believe it when they told me,” said he said. “They cut all the pipe out. It’s just terrible. I just don’t know what’s going on in this country.”