Robbery of Copper
The world’s copper resources are limited and copper is an essential metal that is used in many various fields. For this reason, copper theft has become an increasingly important problem in many countries throughout the world. Copper theft is defined as the illegal taking or carrying away of copper or copper alloy. The copper could be stolen from many sources such as commercial, industrial and public properties or buildings. This form of theft is so popular that in many countries, laws have been created to keep it under control.
In the United States alone, the FBI estimated that in 2019, the amount of money lost due to copper theft was a staggering 4.5 billion dollars. This amount is almost five times higher than it was in 2010, amounting to more than 1 billion dollars. A large portion of the money was spent on the recovery of stolen copper, additional security equipment and lost profits. This huge gap in the money accounts for the damages and losses that businesses have had to bear from the theft of copper from its premises.
The perpetrators behind this type of crime can range from small- time thugs to large organised criminal gangs. It is actually estimated that about 20 percent of these criminals are organised gangsters, so there is a need for authorities to step up its efforts in order to prevent such criminal activities. In the US, it is believed that organised gangs of thieves are the ones that are behind the majority of the thefts.
In order to avoid being a victim of copper theft, it is important that businesses and homeowners take extra precautions to ensure the safety of their copper assets. This includes locking doors, windows and any other entrances to the premises. It is also important that alarm systems are installed, along with surveillance cameras and motion detection systems. These measures should be used to supplement the security that is already part of the building, such as locks and fences.
It is also important to ensure that copper is well marked and identified so that it is recognizable if it is stolen. In addition, copper should be securely stored and only accessible to authorized personnel. Business owners and homeowners should also file relevant reports to the police if any copper theft incidents occur on their premises. By doing this, local police can be aware of the situation and can investigate the crime.
To conclude, copper theft is a serious problem that is costing businesses and individuals a lot of money. It is important that businesses and homeowners put in place extra security measures to protect their copper assets and that they report any suspicious activities to the police. By doing this, we can help to reduce the levels of copper theft and keep our society safe.
