Guard Against Copper Theft.

By Bob Goldsmith.

Copper theft has been making the headlines ever since the price of copper started to climb and climb.

I've read of copper getting stolen from construction sites, from cellular telephone towers, municipal utility poles, electrical substations, storage yards, foreclosed houses, abandoned buildings, churches, in fact anywhere scrap copper is likely to be found.

And yes, copper theft has also taken place from occupied homes.

What makes scrap copper valuable enough to steal? The rise in demand from the fast growing economies of China and India has pushed up the price along with that of other semi precious metals. It is true that with this awful recession the price has dropped back a bit, but it still remains high and copper theft continues.

The thieves it seems, are often junkies. They take the opportunity to rip out copper from any unguarded place they can locate it. If that means taking risks with their lives, they do so. More than one has met his end trying to steal live cabling, the junkie pays no heed to the adage “never monkey with electricity.”

how can you guard against copper theft?

Would the thieves steal the copper pipes from your basement and leave your plasma TV alone? Doubtful, but it would depend somewhat on the current price of copper. It is possible they would steal both.

Having the copper piping stolen would likely cost you more to replace though, not only because of the cost of the pipes and the cost of the labor, but also the cost of fixing the damage the theft would cause.

In an attempt to reduce the trade in stolen scrap materials, traders are making extra efforts to document all deals. In some states they have been forced by regulations to do so. When anyone turns up to the scrap yard wanting to sell copper or other valuable scrap metals, they and their vehicle license plates are photographed, and the material they are trying to sell is held for three days before being sold on, or recycled.

Seems to be a good way to reduce the trade in stolen metal, if the thieves have no place to turn the copper into cash they are not going to steal it. The plan does depend though on all traders doing their part, I wonder if all will.

So how can you guard against copper theft? For the average homeowner there is not much extra to do. If your home security is up to scratch it will protect the copper wiring and pipes you have in your home, as well as protecting your other valuables. Of course if your home security isn't up to scratch . . .

Some older residential properties are blessed with copper guttering and downspouts and lately copper thieves have been helping themselves. How can a homeowner protect these fine old architectural features?

There are Copper Theft Kits on the market these are basically wireless alarm systems containing indoor cameras, night vision cameras, motion detectors and a control panel. However, if you already have a wireless alarm system, you probably can extend it by adding extra cameras and detectors to cover your copper guttering, downspouts and A/C condenser.

The main target of these thieves has been construction sites and utility structures. But when you think that a three bedroom home could contain as much as $4,000 in copper plumbing and wiring, you realize that you have far more on your property that could interest a thief than you perhaps thought you had.

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