Copper, aluminum, nickel, stainless steel and scrap iron have become the desired target of thieves looking to make a quick dollar. An increase in demand for these metals from Asian markets such as China and India has created a thriving international scrap trade, resulting in much higher prices.

Of particular concern is copper, now selling for approximately $4,400 a ton, up 50% since the beginning of 2009. Copper theft often includes gutters, flashings, downspouts, water lines and electrical wiring that can be quickly stripped from vacant buildings, industrial facilities, commercial buildings and construction sites. Air conditioning units are particularly attractive, and are often tampered with or stolen for their copper coils and pipes that connect to HVAC systems. The metal is then sold to recycling companies and scrap yards for a huge profit.

Metal theft is a real problem that tends to be underestimated and while the economy struggles, metal theft is expected to increase as people become desperate for any kind of income. Vacant buildings and homes under construction are huge targets for thieves.

A painful lesson for businesses

The Nolan County Sheriff’s Office has seen an increase in burglaries in the Rural Nolan County areas. More recently, burglaries of vacant buildings, industrial facilities, commercial buildings and construction sites have been reported and are currently being investigated.

It has been found that wily thieves use a variety of methods to locate and steal metals. Some pose as renovation contractors while stripping copper from construction sites and vacant homes. Others use a buddy method for stealing, with one person driving a getaway truck and the other grabbing the metal. A few resourceful criminals have even used the internet to identify large amounts of metal stored outdoors.

Regardless of the method, the cost of metal theft to business owners nationwide is staggering. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that losses from copper theft alone cost the U.S. economy about $1 billion a year.

Having adequate property insurance is critical, especially if your business uses any of the higher risk metals, like copper or aluminum. The theft of $100 worth of copper might cost you $10,000 or more in repairs, lost productivity and profits in addition to the replacement cost of the metal.

Preventing metal theft

To combat the metal theft problem, at least 28 states and scores of municipalities around the country have passed laws tightening the restrictions on scrap dealers. In some instances, purchases of scrap metal are required to be held in reserve for a week or more before being resold in case it has been stolen. Some states require dealers to record the seller’s name, address and driver’s license.

Still, the best defense is to prevent metal theft at the source!

In an effort to discourage criminal activity and or identify criminal suspects, Sheriff David Warren encourages home and business owners to consider the following measures to reduce your risk:

• Install a security camera with video recorder and keep recordings for a sufficient period.
• Secure all equipment in locked buildings, or in well-lit areas secured by fencing. Better yet, use a perimeter security system with contact alarms or motion detectors, or install a 6-foot perimeter fence with barbed wire at the top (as allowed by local rules, regulations or standards) and gates with locks to avoid theft of common scrap metals, such as copper, nickel, stainless steel and others.
• Post “No Trespassing” placards around the property or signs indicating the presence of a video surveillance or security system to deter thieves. Even with non-active systems, these signs tend to discourage some instances of metal theft.
• Remove access to buildings and roofs. Eliminate items that allow for easy entry to buildings, such as trees, ladders, scaffolding, dumpsters and accumulated materials such as pallet piles.
• Secure your building access with deadbolts, and door and window locks.
• Trim or remove shrubbery or other landscaping that allows criminals to hide from view on your property.
• Mark metals with the company’s name using paint, hard-to-remove decals or engraving equipment.
• Make sure someone is present when supplies such as copper wiring or pipe are delivered at a job site so the materials can be immediately secured.
• Don’t receive supplies earlier than you need them. The longer metal is onsite and unused, the longer it’s at risk of theft.
• Develop a relationship with local law enforcement. Ask for their guidance in preventing metal theft at your business and what to do in the event a theft occurs.
• Increase lighting outside, and protect fixtures (such as AC units) with locked metal cages.
• Create a master list or inventory of all of your equipment and bulk metal (if applicable) and include pictures. Providing the list to your agent and the authorities might help in recovering the items.
• Talk with your insurance agent. Make sure you have adequate insurance to cover metal theft, and be sure to update your agent as your business changes. For example, if your building becomes partially or fully vacant, your coverage may change without you realizing it.

If a metal theft does occur, call the police immediately so that local recyclers and scrap dealers are alerted. Be sure to preserve the crime scene, including tire tracks, shoe tracks and fingerprints. This evidence could be used to help identify and prosecute the thieves if they are caught.