The numbers say it all. "As metal prices rise, so do the number of metal thefts. More than $68,000 of copper wire was stolen from a US electrical utility because a thief was able to steal multiple 1,000 pound rolls of copper wire. Internationally, copper theft is increasing, and reports are being received from many countries,” said Maotshe. A look at the world of copper theft -- where it is being stolen, how the price affects metal thefts, what material is preferred. Copper Theft. In the United States, copper theft incidents have more than tripled within the last 5 years. copper theft The world market price for copper has soared over 400 percent, in the past 5 years. According to the latest statistics from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, which tracks incidents of metal theft, 25,083 claims were filed from 2009 to … Stealing wire and cable is not a new occurrence; however, the rising copper prices have given thieves more financial incentive for the same amount of risk just a few years ago. The theft of copper cables has cost our railways £43 million in three years – but who does it, and how? That means it is imperative for home owners and businesses to insure themselves against these losses. Metal thefts by police force area. Commerce and Industry (SACCI) (2013), the estimated costs of copper cable theft. During this period, 33,775 insurance claims for the theft of copper, bronze, brass or aluminum were handled—32,568 of them (96 percent) for copper alone. Thieves are brazen, however, so today you have to protect everything inside and outside of your home – even your home’s generator, even if it is turned on. It usually increases when worldwide prices for scrap metal rise, as has happened dramatically due to rapid industrialization in India and China.Apart from precious metals like gold and silver, the metals most commonly stolen are non-ferrous metals such as copper, aluminium, brass, and bronze. Home Office, Metal theft tables: MT.02. As a result, copper metal thefts (and other metals) have impacted the City of Calgary and the Province of Alberta at an astonishing rate. Knowing that theft statistics for copper rise when its price per pound rises can also help local authorities prepare for possible issues. One thing is for certain: with copper prices remaining high, so will the incidents of theft. Since 2009, metal thefts have consistently increased in the US on a year-by-year basis. Police patrols to scrap yards have increased 75% specifically because of the increase in copper theft instances. Of these, 96% concerned copper theft. To prevent this, some states have implemented laws that require serial number tracking and exact records for copper recycling to happen – with steep penalties for thieves and recyclers who choose not to follow the law. The amount of copper that is successfully stolen and redeemed exceeds $1 billion annually. We conducted a retrospective study of all individuals examined by the Jefferson County Coroner Medical Examiner Office from … Between 2006-2008, there were a little more than 13,000 reported incidents of copper theft. 5. To explore and to describe the extent and the impact of copper cable theft. The following are among the findings: It's based on a new report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau. 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It’s understandable to see why copper thefts are on the rise, but a few controls in place can help to reduce incidents. The problem has plagued transport networks for years, affecting some of th… Here's what Supercircuits' report had to say -- and then make sure you check out the full infographic on copper theft today. Although it won’t be enough to make a financial difference for you, now multiply what you have by all of the homes in the neighborhood or community. This paper aims to provide copper theft prevention best Thieves are willing to go to almost any length to steal metal, stripping sheets of metal from building rooftops, stealing memorial decorations from cemeteries, ripping apart air conditioners for their copper coils, and stripping homes and buildings of wiring and piping. Copper theft incidents have tripled within the last five years in the United States. The New York-New Jersey area is the metropolitan area that reports the most metal theft claims within the communities borders. 2. Metal theft is "the theft of items for the value of their constituent metals". Although copper theft is thought of as a victimless crime, repair personnel and the thieves themselves can be fatally injured because of the damage that copper theft can cause. Many of the power lines that are strung above the ground have copper cable within them, which causes thieves to climb up the pole and potentially cause themselves a fatal injury. According to the latest statistics from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, which tracks incidents of metal theft, 25,083 claims were filed from 2009 … Between 2010-2012, there were over 32,000 incidents of copper theft. 052 15/12/2011 JMPD offices set 160 kg of copper were found at house number 43 Schullar Street Forest Hill. Utilities that supply power are subject to theft of service and theft of hardware used to provide service. We received this great little report put together by the team over at Supercircuits in regards to the theft of copper metal. Time series of LME copper prices (US$ per tonne) and BTP-recorded ''live'' copper cable thefts (n ¼ 5,013), January 2006 to April 2012. This, combined with plummeting prices for copper at the time, led many to believe that the end was near for cable theft crime. By Mfuneko Toyana, ... according to Statistics South Africa. 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From Disabled and $500k in Debt to a Pro Blogger with 5 Million Monthly Visitors, 22 Chilean Mining Industry Statistics, Trends & Analysis, 20 Scrap Recycling Industry Statistics and Trends, 21 Electrolysis Industry Statistics and Trends, 21 Metallurgical and Mining Industry Statistics,…, "From Disabled and $500k in Debt to a Pro Blogger with 5 Million Monthly Visitors. Copper theft is a serious problem that jeopardizes public and employee safety and impacts electric reliability and utility finances. Copper Theft Incidents Statistics. 5 For every substation that has copper wire removed from it, the minimum repair cost in the US is $3,000 and that doesn’t account for losses that occur because of power losses to individual customers. The recent rise in copper prices has made solid-copper pole grounds a valuable target for thieves. "A new report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) confirms what many are seeing through news reports and their own experience — thefts of copper and other metals are occurring all over the nation. Home » Statistics » 21 Extraordinary Copper Theft Statistics. iv ABSTRACT This dissertation focuses on the phenomenon of copper cable theft within the Gauteng Province of South Africa. Make sure you have the right security measures in place for your next project to be on the other side of these statistics. This is an acceleration of a decade-long trend. 12/03/08. In Texas, up to 40% of copper thefts occurred in homes that were under construction and only 10% of theft incidents were because of a forced entry. Detectives have closed hundreds of cases with information from the LeadsOnline Metal Theft Investigative System. Between 2010-2012, there were over 32,000 incidents of copper theft. Illegal electricity connections and cable theft lead to power outages which lead to an increase in crime when properties are vulnerable. © 2021 Endeavor Business Media, LLC. "Since August 2009, metal thefts have steadily increased across the nation, driven by rising prices for base metals… especially copper. Between 2010-2012, there were over 32,000 incidents of copper theft. One of the fastest methods to combat copper theft is to install copper wiring that has a steel outer core because the value of this type of cable is a fraction of straight copper wire. Not every copper theft incident requires an insurance claim or a police report, which may skew the results of today’s research. A recent criminal intelligence report scoped out the problem and is driving new solutions. 55% of the claims on copper theft were on commercial policies. 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