AC unit theft

[ChuckT]

While we were away some "kind" soul helped themselves to the AC unit on our doublewide.
SOBs

Had the sheriff out, they took fingerprints and some evidence then we filed a claim with the insurance.

When we get a new unit I want some security for it. I've seen ads for a thing called "CopperGuard" - a sort of cage surrounding the AC. Anybody have experience with these to share?

TIA
cvt

 

[Heavyduty]

If you have a alarm, you can run a alarm wire with the thermostate wires and if they cut the wire to move the AC, your neighbors will know.

You could also pour a concrete pad for the AC to sit on. Have some anchor bolts going through the frame of the AC. You can weld the nuts on the achor bolts so they don't come off.

 

[RadarTech]

While we were away some "kind" soul helped themselves to the AC unit on our doublewide.
SOBs

Had the sheriff out, they took fingerprints and some evidence then we filed a claim with the insurance.

When we get a new unit I want some security for it. I've seen ads for a thing called "CopperGuard" - a sort of cage surrounding the AC. Anybody have experience with these to share?

TIA
cvt

WOW!!!

AC theft.. I feel for you..

Let us know what the police find...


J

 

[kenmac]

I have had fab shop build ( usually the same place that builds secutity doors) build cages for me at the customer's request. I have also been back where they just hooked a chain to the cage and their truck & pulled the cage off. The cage usually bolts th the concrete pad that the unit sits on. It's getting harder to find the concrete pads. they are going to plastic pads.

 

[SPIKER]

last year there were a lot of Commercial AC thefts, businesses close for the weekend come in monday and the building is not, and AC unit is gone and the copper is cut/yanked out and a lot fo the Elec wires mia too. I think there was 3 or 4 hits like that locally and a church or two was hit as well. One place they cut a 2400 pair phone cable, which ran under a bridge in cleveland cost the phone company and the companies on the line tons of money, the figure was somewhere around 1 million in lost retinue and maintenance repair costs. Copper value less than 150 bucks and is nearly impossible to clean the insulation off of the copper wire, as these wires are only about 2 or 3 times the size of a hair... some idiot thought he was getting a ton of money for his theft of the cable...

Mark

 

[CurlyDave]

...and is nearly impossible to clean the insulation off of the copper wire, as these wires are only about 2 or 3 times the size of a hair...

A lot of recycling facilities just burn the insulation off.

Do not try this at home -- many types of insulation release toxic fumes, really toxic.

 

[2manyrocks]

It really stinks that your A/C unit was stolen.

 

[Mike Costello]

Was listening to the news the other day and they said 57 AC units had been stolen over a recent period--all for the copper. You would think the recyclers would wise up. Greed poisons the soul.

 

[RadarTech]

Was listening to the news the other day and they said 57 AC units had been stolen over a recent period--all for the copper. You would think the recyclers would wise up. Greed poisons the soul.

I have a customer that is a recycling company...
They really work hard with the local LEO to fight the theft...
Pictures taken with every copper purchase, require a copy of all drivers licence and if anything is seemingly wrong they call the police..

Now this is a large recycler...
The small mom and pop is where the issue is..

J

 

[LD1]

Just my opinion but I think the media doesn't help the matter either.

You are constantly hearing about this kind of stuff on the news, like the "big electric wire mania". Constantly talking about it on the news just gives some thiefs the idea. They sit their and think, boy if all these people are doing it, it must be valuable, and they arent getting caught.

The AC/heat pump units never crossed my mind. Bit if I was a criminal, hearing about this would have just given me the idea.

Also, mos scrap yards around here are supposed to verify where the copper came from, if in large amounts/good condition. Something that doesnt look like scrap. But they don't have to check on joe plumber who who takes in 10-15lbs of rotted drain pipe. But someone taking in several hundred lbs of good wire or several lengths of "new" looking pipe might be in trouble. It is a good Idea in my book. Most of the yards around here take it seriously too cause if they get caught with stolen copper, there are some steep penalties.

 

[LBrown59]

While we were away some "kind" soul helped themselves to the AC unit on our doublewide.
SOBs

Had the sheriff out, they took fingerprints and some evidence then we filed a claim with the insurance.

When we get a new unit I want some security for it. I've seen ads for a thing called "CopperGuard" - a sort of cage surrounding the AC. Anybody have experience with these to share?

TIA
cvt

I don't have central air but I do have a couple of large window units.
One thing about them is it would be harder to steal them that it would be to steal a central unit.

 

[kenmac]

Sad thing is,They only get a small amount at the scrap yard compaired to the replacment cost. I took a 3 ton cond. unit with evap. coil to scrap last week. I got $80.00.. you only get #2 copper price because it's not clean copper

 

[captaincrab55]

Was listening to the news the other day and they said 57 AC units had been stolen over a recent period--all for the copper. You would think the recyclers would wise up. Greed poisons the soul.

Sounds like one should keep the outside service disconnect locked in the on position... It may not stop them, but could slow them down... The longer it takes, the more likely one may get caught....

 

[Just Bill]

Sad thing is,They only get a small amount at the scrap yard compaired to the replacment cost. I took a 3 ton cond. unit with evap. coil to scrap last week. I got $80.00.. you only get #2 copper price because it's not clean copper

Pure profit and low risk of getting caught.

 

[clemsonfor]

last year there were a lot of Commercial AC thefts, businesses close for the weekend come in monday and the building is not, and AC unit is gone and the copper is cut/yanked out and a lot fo the Elec wires mia too. I think there was 3 or 4 hits like that locally and a church or two was hit as well. One place they cut a 2400 pair phone cable, which ran under a bridge in cleveland cost the phone company and the companies on the line tons of money, the figure was somewhere around 1 million in lost retinue and maintenance repair costs. Copper value less than 150 bucks and is nearly impossible to clean the insulation off of the copper wire, as these wires are only about 2 or 3 times the size of a hair... some idiot thought he was getting a ton of money for his theft of the cable...

Mark

They just burn it off. My recyle place pays the same for burned or stripped wire. I was also told it was illegal to burn the insulation off, i have no idea why it would be illegal to burn something i own, stollen another question.

 

[clemsonfor]

i had 2 new 3 ton units installed when i moved in and i did not keep the olds cause i did not have the time to strip them. The contractor said there is a guy at his chuch on hard times that they drop them off with. Later i wish i would have stripped them for $80 a piece.

 

[LD1]

They just burn it off. My recyle place pays the same for burned or stripped wire. I was also told it was illegal to burn the insulation off, i have no idea why it would be illegal to burn something i own, stollen another question.

For the same reason it is illegal to burn tires and what not.

We own a lot of things that the govt tells us what we can and cannot do with.