It appears that when the price of products bought on the global market go up in value then the crimes that people are willing to commit to get hold of the products also goes global.
Homeowners targeted by thieves
The price of scrap metal and copper in particular has soared over the last 12 months leading to homeowners in several parts of the country making claims on their household insurance policies as burglars have stripped their homes of copper piping and wiring while they have been away. Apparently the same thing is now happening in the United States of America (USA).
Police forces in the UK have been inundated with reports of copper stolen from buildings of every description. At first the thieves concentrated on big buildings such as churches, schools and other public buildings as well as the wiring alongside the UK’s railway network. However, as the price of copper has gone up the thieves have turned their attention to ordinary run of the mill homes.
USA homes suffering same fate
A gang of thieves recently arrested in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, had been plying their trade in several states before being brought to book. In common with homeowners in the UK, American families are contacting local tradesman and sometimes emergency services to homes that have seen plumbing pipes, air conditioning wiring and hot water tanks ripped from their foundations.
Cost is much more than the gain
Of course the monetary gain for the thieves is nothing compared to the loss encountered by the families violated by the crimes. The damage caused by water leaking into a home where electric cables have been exposed can be catastrophic and home insurance companies are now handling claims everyday from such scenarios. The claims on both sides of the Atlantic will run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Neighbourhood watch encouraged
Police in the UK have requested householders to be vigilant about their security when they are at home, but be extra careful when they vacate their property for any length of time. They are asking the public to help each other out this Easter by keeping an eye on neighbouring properties when they know people are on holiday. Homeowners are reminded that it doesn’t take much time for an undisturbed thief to find a way into most houses, but a light or an alarm can usually persuade the criminal to go elsewhere.
Tags: copper theft, Home Insurance