Lisa Carey Real Estate Blog at Carey Cottage, Tallahassee

Thefts have been reported from commercial and residential locations, as well as public utilities and construction sites. Vulnerable targets include, but are not limited to:
• abandoned or vacant commercial and residential structures
• telecommunications towers
• electric substations and power poles
• air conditioning units or components
• backflow preventers
• vehicles

Mitigation strategies exist to decrease not only the likelihood of theft, but the collateral damage, as well. Thomas Russell, Senior Risk Control Representative with Westfield Insurance suggests the following prevention methods for air conditioning units, which may be helpful in other applications:
• Spotlight potential targets
• Obstruct targets behind hostile bushes
• Padlock /Chain potential targets and roof access points
• Install protective cages/fencing around targets
• Alarm areas of concern and/or individual units

Copper thefts have an adverse impact on Florida’s security, specifically critical infrastructures and key resource areas that are in many instances the target. The significant amounts of damage to these components impact the private industry economically, cause reliability issues for the community, and hinder law enforcement and first responder capabilities. Please contact your local law enforcement agency if you have been a victim of copper theft. 

This information was provided by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the North Florida Fusion eXchange (NFFX).  For additional information regarding copper thefts in the North Florida Region, please contact NFFX at nffx@flcjn.net