Metal thefts continue to plague housing authorities throughout the nation. As the U.S. economy sags, metal prices have climbed. This ensures that the problem will not subside. The current demand for metal is being stoked by China’s and India’s expansion, which necessitates more raw materials for new building construction. The continued growth of these nations guarantees a strong metal market for years. For example, a Washington Post article dated May 11, 2008 stated copper returned .83 cents a pound in 2000. Today, it can bring in five times as much.

When professionally installed, metal can effectively encapsulate harmful gas and electricity. It also protects vital systems like fire pumps. Vandals, lacking professional training, indiscriminately remove the metals and leave the area behind them in danger. For example, the removal of copper from gas lines has been known to start fires. In housing, the unstable gaseous atmosphere present after a metal theft is an inhalation hazard, a fire hazard to nearby inhabitants, and a fire hazard to professionals stabilizing the area.

Unfortunately, eliminating metal theft is unrealistic. What can be controlled is how available it is to potential criminals. Simply, when opportunity is not checked a crime is more likely to be committed.

Please consider these suggestions that, if implemented, can reduce copper thefts at your housing authority.

Inform Police: Recently, police have placed added emphasis on metals theft. When buildings go vacant, police should be notified so they may increase patrols. These patrols can be particularly useful after business hours where the likelihood of copper thefts increases. If the Authority has a proprietary police force or utilizes security personnel, use them to conduct daily inspections for signs of vulnerability and breach.

Surveillance Camera: Companies now specialize in anti-theft surveillance. One company of note is Videofone. As noted above, metals are frequently used in a building’s electrical system. Often when lifting the metal, thieves disable the electrical system to limit potential electrocution. When power is cut, so is the hardwired video surveillance equipment. To restore surveillance capabilities in a timely manner, unwired battery powered cameras should be stocked. These cameras are mobile and can restore video surveillance almost immediately.

Lighting at Vacancies: Proper lighting has a deterrent affect. It allows video surveillance to record activity to its full capability. A surveillance camera taping in the shadows has limited usefulness.

Checklist: Checklists are an age-old risk management practice mainly because they are effective. Checklists should be created that focus on lock integrity, exterior lighting, signage, security camera operation, and other tools whose function may deter potential criminals.

Employee Dishonesty/Screening: Properties need to be guarded against internal and external threats. Employee dishonesty – inside jobs – account for a substantial portion of metal thefts. Employee screening increases the likelihood that those hired are of good character. Employees of good character are less likely to engage in dishonest activity. It is equally important to ensure that contract construction agencies have similar employee screening programs.

Target Hardening: Target hardening is based on two principals. First, properties where ownership is expressed are less likely to be victimized. Second, physical tools are useful in limiting intrusion. The primary tools to harden a target are surveillance cameras, proper illumination, operational locks, and signs guarding against trespassing.

Paint Copper: Many junkyards will not accept copper that is not the traditional brownish color. Consequently, companies like Eugene Water & Electric Board in Eugene, Oregon have begun painting copper. In addition to devaluing the copper, the painted copper might dupe vandals into believing it is a separate, less-valuable metal.

VPS Board:  VPS (Vacant Property Services) boards are well known in the risk management community and the overall effectiveness is a topic of debate. The advantage debate aside, installing fortified boards at least greatly hardens the potential target. If hiring a contract service to install these barriers proves too costly, plywood boards can always be used to block accessible areas into the units.

Admittedly, no tool advocated above is a failsafe way to prevent metal thefts. In fact, a determined and experienced criminal is nearly impossible to stop. What these measures aim to prevent is the inexperienced criminal who hits a vacancy because it is a vulnerable target. Even when a criminal is a novice, he or she is still capable of inflicting burdensome losses that are otherwise avoidable.

If you have any questions, please contact John Laverty in the HAI Group Risk Control Department at
800-873-0242, ext. 446.