An Unexpected Crime: Preventing Copper Theft

Theft may come in many forms, such as stolen wallets, stolen property from cars or an office break-in. You may be surprised to learn that heating and air conditioning (HVAC) units are being stolen in increasing numbers across the country for the copper components they contain. You can deter would-be-thieves by properly securing your facilities.

 

Why steal copper?

Thieves may target copper for various reasons:

• A high demand for copper has caused the price of copper to rise.
• Recyclers pay, on average, 90 percent of the new copper price for scrap copper
• Copper is 100 percent recyclable.
• Access to copper is usually easy.
• Copper theft requires only limited tools.

 

Where is it?

Copper may be found throughout your buildings and facilities. HVAC units have been the primary target in 80% of church copper thefts. However, copper can also be found in these areas:

• Electrical appliances
• Wiring
• Gutters
• Pipes

 

How do I protect it?

Review your facilities and complete an inspection, paying careful attention to ensuring these items are complete:

• Develop a security plan and Safety & Security team for your organization.
• Deny access to your property with fences, gates or signage when it’s not in use.
• Add security lighting to areas where thieves or other criminals may hide.
• Deny access to your roof-mounted HVAC units by removing fixed ladders (other than fire escapes) and other access points such as tree branches.
• Keep portable ladders inside a locked building.
• Consider enclosing your HVAC units in steel cages.
• Install security cameras that are properly protected, installed and monitored.
• Mount alarms to your HVAC units that will sound if the unit is tampered with.

You can reach out to local law enforcement for further assistance in identifying your organization’s vulnerabilities and enforcing security measures on your property.