Search for “copper theft” and you’ll see many news stories and reports stating that it’s on the rise across North America. Thieves burn the wire and take it to recycling facilities where they are processed.
This is a serious problem that goes beyond construction sites and buildings having copper wire stolen. Crooks are taking wires from the communications infrastructure. This is why a major communications company is getting involved. This affects public safety and the community. As another measure to fight copper theft, the city and company are installing security cameras throughout the area.
Signs Copper Theft Is Rising
The San Joaquin County Sheriff tells the News-Sentinel that copper wire theft has gone up by 139% in just four months. The situation is so dire that the county and AT&T have teamed up to offer rewards leading to the arrests of copper wire thieves. San Joaquin County in Lodi, California has had 48 copper wire lines cut in four days.
The county is working on an ordinance to hold scrap yards accountable if they accept stolen copper wire. They’re also working on another ordinance that lets law enforcement seize vehicles used in the copper thefts.
Copper theft has been a problem for a long time. Almost 10 years ago, thieves took copper wire from the bulbed streetlights by opening the fuse boxes at the base of the poles. The cities in which the thefts were occurring stopped them by installing impenetrable boxes. Once again, crooks have found a new way to achieve the same goal. They don’t go after the fuse boxes anymore. They go to construction sites and businesses.
Austin is facing the same problems as San Joaquin County. Austin Energy tells KXAN there have been more than 20 major copper thefts in 2023 alone. Thieves are prying open transformers and equipment to cut wires to swipe the copper conduit.
These could involve organized crime rings as the story mentions criminals have the resources to operate electrical equipment. The citizen also says three or four copper thefts occur every week. The evidence shows that crooks know what they’re doing as they take precautions to protect themselves from the dangerous task.
The Cost of Copper Theft
Copper wire theft is a public safety issue. While copper thieves de-energize the transformers and pull out all the copper wire, there have been lines that remain energized. This is very dangerous to the public. The story says copper thefts have taken place outside large empty buildings, such as movie theaters, gyms, and grocery stores.
Copper theft isn’t easy to pull off. A story in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette reveals someone was electrocuted and killed after falling during the process of stealing copper. The theft attempt left 200 people without power. This wasn’t the first time thieves tried to take copper wire. They broke into another building where they ransacked it for copper and appliances.
The story indicates wire and copper thefts have been a problem in Pine Bluff, Arkansas for a few years. In just 10 days in the month of May, the police received 10 reports of copper and wire thefts for a total value of almost $100,000.
CBC News states New Brunswick, Canada is also seeing an increase in copper theft. Thieves are taking it from any place that has it including people’s homes, electrical substations, construction sites, utility poles, and streetlights. A representative from the RCMP says they are getting copper theft reports almost every week. These incidents not only leave people without power but also at a loss of thousands of dollars in damage.
The reason for the growing number of copper thefts is largely the result of climbing copper prices. For almost a decade, the prices remained low. Now, they’ve reached a price point that makes it attractive to crooks. Thieves go after copper wire because it is widely available.
“We find that these thieves are generally people who’ve worked in some type of industry where they understand metal,” said Ben Stickle, author of “Metal Scrappers and Thieves: Scavenging for Survival and Profit. “Maybe they’ve been installing metals or a roof, or they do heating or air conditioning, something where they understand the value of metal, how to work with it, and how to get money out of it.”
How are cities and businesses fighting back? Some are implementing regulations or ordinances affecting scrap yards. But some believe these regulations won’t help. Considering these thieves know how to safely steal copper wire, they also adapt to changing laws.
Thieves told Ben Stickle that they knew the scrap yards were taking pictures of the copper wire and checking driver’s licenses. Thieves adapted by selling indirectly. It could be as simple as calling someone they know and selling to them.
How to Deter Copper Theft
It’s possible to deter copper theft. Here’s a construction site theft video and metal theft video showing how intruders at an industrial warehouse site were caught. The technology that kept the offenders from getting away with the copper wire is remote video surveillance. This is a proactive security technology that can greatly reduce the risk of copper theft.
This security technology can help mitigate damage and liability, avoid the costs associated with theft, and improve safety. Video surveillance with remote monitoring combines video analytics and trained monitoring operators. Video analytics works with trained monitoring operators to help catch a crime before it happens. That’s because together they can help spot unauthorized people approaching the property and act right away.
Anytime an intruder approaches the property, a trained monitoring operator can give them a warning over an onsite speaker. If the intruders aren’t fazed by the warning and continue to work their way to the copper wire, the monitoring operator can call the police while following the trespassers’ movements.
Video surveillance can do more than just deter copper theft. The video cameras could help obstacles that could cause potential safety hazards such as materials, equipment, and out-of-place tools.
The video surveillance solution can save all recordings to be used as needed. The footage can be used to share with investigators, limit the costs associated with liability lawsuits, and even help find opportunities for improving processes.
Don’t Let Copper Theft Happen to You
Copper theft is a serious problem across North America and shows no signs of slowing down. The good news is video surveillance with remote monitoring helps businesses protect their valuable assets and deter copper theft. Video surveillance stands out from other security solutions because it has multiple checks and balances as well as layers of security built into it.
Of course, video surveillance and monitoring should not be the only security solution for deterring copper theft. As mentioned before, some cities responded to copper theft by installing impenetrable fuse boxes. Here’s a video of a thief breaking into an electrical box at a shopping center. Unfortunately, criminals know how to adapt, and they did by going after other places. Copper wiring is everywhere.
In addition to video surveillance, properties should also explore other security measures such as proper lighting, perimeter fencing, and locking up. If you have a lot of assets, consider adding GPS and identifying information to expensive assets. These make it harder for criminals to sell the item.
The right security solutions depend on the property. However, video surveillance has proven valuable for just about every industry. By implementing a comprehensive security plan with multiple measures, companies can significantly cut the risk of theft. In some cases, they may even be able to lower their insurance premiums.
How Video Surveillance Helps Deliver a Quick ROI
Another advantage of video surveillance with monitoring is that it could yield a return on investment within months. It’s not easy to calculate the return on security investment. But think about the side effects of a crime.
When you don’t have the assets and supplies you need, it disrupts business. If damage happens, then the public will notice. It will also impact employees who may not feel safe. These also affect the public’s perception of the company and its reputation.
Don’t wait for something to happen to act. Businesses have a responsibility to protect their employees, clients, visitors, and vendors. By protecting their valuable assets, companies can increase their chances of success in an increasingly challenging economy and competitive environment.
Not just any security camera system will work effectively in helping to copper theft and other crimes. A lot of them are reactive in that they don’t do anything until after the crime or damage has happened.
Proactive video surveillance requires video analytics and trained monitoring operators. Analytics removes the monotony and human-prone errors involved with watching the cameras. Humans can take the correct action for the problem and communicate updates with those who need to be in the know.
You don’t always find out about a problem soon after it happens. Or a litigious customer may make up a liability claim in hopes of getting money. You can contact the security vendor to review the video footage to get the needed proof of what happened.
These are some of the factors that will help ensure you see a fast return on your investment in video surveillance with remote monitoring. Check out this case study on how remote video surveillance helps reduce theft and accidents.
Remote video surveillance can help protect your valuable assets. Between inflation and the rising costs of supplies, it’s more expensive to replace and repair things. You may avoid spending money on fixing broken things by investing in proactive security.
To learn more about construction security, get your free guide to monetizing security while balancing access, safety, and profitability. For a customized security solution that fits your budget and requirements, contact us.
Texas Private Security License Number: B14187
California Alarm Operator License Number: ACO7876
Florida Alarm System Contractor I License Number: EF20001598
Tennessee Alarm Contracting Company License Number: 2294
Virginia Private Security Services Business License Number: 11-19499
Alabama Electronic Security License # 002116
Canada TSBC License: LEL0200704
