Copper thievery

John R. Hall

This rash of copper thefts has been crazy. An HVAC contractor in my community was so ticked off about people ripping him off that he sat out near his shop one night and waited for the thieves to return. Being the smart criminals that they were, they showed up and began gutting one of the outdoor units behind his shop. The owner was smart enough to stay away and call the cops, who quickly showed up and arrested the pair. One of the Phi Beta Dumma criminals told the cops "I have a right to be here -- I have to support my family."

Of course, so does the contractor, his employees, his suppliers, their employees, etc.

I give the contractor credit for not risking injury by not intervening. But I'm not sure I could sit idly by while somoeone was stealing what I worked hard to pay for. At least the Dumma made the story somewhat entertaining.

Ken_40

Just one more

reason and justification for making hollow points (:-o)

ScottMP

I was thinking

A couple of 12 volt batteries hooked up to the copper pile ?

Or maybe right to the 110 of the shop ?

Scott

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

jackchips_2

Shocking,

Scott Milne. Just shocking.

Ah, how about a video camera hooked up to the wire also? It could be a continuos play on HH.com.

Jack

Unknown

this is more shocking...

The bar owner was tired of repeated break in and claimed the police know who the offender is but didint do any thing as there no "proof".... One nite he broke into thje bar bathroom window and at the bottom, there was a "live " wire contraption, needless to say, he died of electruction. The crimmal had a looong rap sheet for breaking and entry. So the cop arrested the bar owner for murder even though he had a sign warning about the "trap"... After the long and pissed away the money on lawyer, he got off with bar volation (sp) for having unsafe electrical device... While the dead crimmal's family pleaded that he was suppourting his family and unable to read english.... Sigh...

John R. Hall

Wally's Filling Station

Barney Fife had everyone beat with his high-tech suveillance and reconnaisance camera above the door at Wally's Filling Station. Too bad he took his own pic instead of the crook's.

Mark Hunt

Good answer


"I have a right to be here -- I have to support my family."

Maybe he could ask the owner of the company for a job?

After he gets out of jail of course.

Mark H

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

Leo

From My police days

From my police days and carrying a gun the irony is hollow points are COPPER JACKETED.


Leo

Ken D.

Copper

I have a right to be here? Huh? I'm sure there is a judge that will buy that. The country is sinking lower and lower. It's called shaft the working man.

Jim Bennett

Copper theft

One building I work in has been hit four times in the last three weeks. It sure keeps me busy replacing stuff.

At least our last thief was conscientious, he turned off the water lines before he ripped them out! Small consolation.

The other day they ripped out 300' of refrigeration lines from a commercial rooftop unit.

Makes me want to "accidentally" leave the door open to the transformer service room. Lots-O copper in there

Jim

Brad White_110

And....more irony...

The police got the name "Cops" or "Coppers" from the bright copper buttons worn on uniforms issued by Sir Robert Peel, for whom "Bobbies" are named...

Love your JHP reference, Leo, as I do love irony. Wish I said it! 125 grains does some good sometimes....

ryan_7

condensing unit theft

The contractor working next door, saw a guy one late afternoon, pull up in our drive, take out a cordless drill, disassemble an old condensing unit, throw the metal pieces in our dumpster and took the copper. What some people will do.

Bob Gagnon plumbing and heating

preventing copper thefts

Paint it black! It really works. We used it in the 70s in some buildings that already had the copper ripped out a couple of times, and the painted copper NEVER was stolen. Bob Gagnon

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

Jeff Lawrence_25

Yep

We had a truck run into a copper roof drain scupper (the collector that collected the water draining off the roof to direct it into a downspout). It was mangled and I took it to a sheetmetal place to get it repaired/replaced. It was in such bad shape, they said they'd just build a new one, but I asked it to be done out of sheet metal instead of copper.

You guessed it, they built it out of copper. Nice brand new, shiny copper. oops. They charged me (the company) for a sheet metal one and we painted it black before we hung it. As far as I know, it's still there, unless a truck hit it again...

John R. Hall

Excellent suggestion Bob. I wonder if anyone else has some proactive ideas???

Brad White_9

Sharia Law?

Forget L.A. Law, use Sharia Law.

Penalty for theft? The Islamic Manicure.

Bob Gagnon plumbing and heating

paint it black

I worked for a roofing company in high school, and they used to paint the gas powered pumpers black as soon as they came in, I thought that they were crazy until we didn't paint one on a fri afternoon, you guessed it, it was gone on monday, and they left all the bigger better engines that were painted black. I painted my generator, space heaters, ect. and leave them on the job all the time. No one takes them because they look like junk. Bob

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

Josh_10

On a funny note along the electricution lines I'll share what my wifes grandfather did when someone broke into his house through his basement window. First he bought a rubber pad like you see at the gym when you work out. He placed it directly under the window. Second he set his steel table saw right on top of the rubber pad. Third he ran a single 6 guage wire from the table saw back to his sub-panel and hooked it up to a 20 amp breaker... OUCH!!

On a serious note I don't think the thefts have been very funny at all. We got hit on a $100 level and my good friend who owns an electrical contracting business got hit twice for over $1000 a pop. Don't these guys realize that's how we make our money? It is like stealing tools, and a tool theif in my opinion is the lowest form of life.

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

Leo

A thief is a thief

A thief is a thief no matter what he/she steals. The person who buys their stolen goods is no better. If some low life is selling anything that is out of character for them the buyer is an idiot if they say I didn't know it was stolen.

Leo

Scott Gregg

kyote's out west

the ranchers say "Shoot Shovel and shut up"

Hey...nobody is stealing PEX yet!