On Tuesday I wrote about using systems thinking to think strategically about copper theft. When using systems thinking, we also include our role in the system - meaning, that of law enforcement/policing. What impact do our actions have in the "system" of copper theft?
The reality is that in the U.S.,law enforcement agencies are so fragmented that it is very difficult for them to act in a concerted strategic effort to combat a crime as widespread as copper theft. Crimes attributed to drug addicts are generally not high priority for investigations - and, indeed - case by case investigations are not a strategic method.
It is difficult to assess the actual amount of such crime if records are not kept in a manner that allows queries on specific properties stolen. Do we really know how much of a problem this crime is causing? There are no national statistics on copper theft. In many cases, the crime seems like a low-level crime that is of lower priority than many of the more obvious threats to the public safety of a particular jurisdiction.
Yet copper theft disrupts many important systems in the infrastructure of populated areas all over the world. Examples:
- Transportation systems: railroad equipment has been damaged, highways have been stripped of lighting
- Agriculture systems: irrigation systems have been damaged (read link plaid collar crime)
- Telecommunication systems: emergency services are impacted by cut wires
- Vacant Housing markets: copper theft is devaluing real estate
- Construction systems: new construction is the target of copper thieves
- Power systems: electrical systems are disrupted
Organized crime is also involved in copper theft. To what degree - we do not know.
Hospitals are affected.
Airports are affected.
Cemeteries, churches, and temples are affected.
Schools are affected.
Legislators are also part of the system of copper theft - will their efforts make an impact? Insurance companies seek to minimize risk and are participants in the copper theft system - anyone involved - victim, enforcer, perpetrator, fence, etc - all are part of the system and studying how the parts interact can help us make better strategic choices.
Your post about metal theft is very interesting. I believe it is very important for all law enforcement to meet on a national level and have an open discussion about metal theft and how to work together to fight it.
ReplyDeleteWe are having the very first national metal theft investigations seminar in Orlando, Florida. Please attend!
National Metal Theft Investigations Seminar
ALUMINUM - BRASS - COPPER - PLATINUM
Date: September 22-24, 2008
Location:
The Regal Sun Resort
In The Walt Disney World Resort
Orlando, Florida 32830
Phone: 800-624-4109
Web: http://www.regalsunresort.com
Room Rate: $105.00
Seminar Fee: $295.00
Seminar Website: http://www.iapci.org/seminar-one/index.php
All North America law enforcement and private industry personnel involved in the investigation of metal theft please join us for the first new annual Metal Theft Investigations Seminar! Law enforcement, public utility companies, and others unite to network and develop strategies to combat one of the hottest and fastest-growing crimes!
Invited Speakers Include:
AT&T, Corporate Security
CSX Railroad Police Department
Dallas Police Dept., Texas, Metal Theft Unit
Fort Worth Police Dept., Texas, Metal Theft Unit
Phoenix Police Dept., Arizona, Metal Theft Unit
Southern California Edison, Corporate Security
United States Dept of Homeland Security
For More Information Visit Our Website at: http://www.iapci.org/pages-main/index.php
Not-For-Profit Law Enforcement Educational Association
If you can't attend the seminar join our association membership dues are FREE!
Thank You,
Mr. Scott Fyfe, Executive Director
International Association of
Property Crime Investigators
Phone: (386) 479-5329
E-Mail: sfyfe@iapci.org
Web: PropertyCrimes.org
There is a solution to the copper theft problem. There is a company in Dallas called Stealth Monitoring. They have been featured on 2 TV channels in the Dallas area in stories about how they assisted the police in catching thieves in the act. They installed video security cameras in numerous businesses in the DFW area and then they have a trained staff that monitors those cameras live from their monitoring station. The operators saw the thieves enter the property and they notified police who responded quickly and caught the criminals in the act. Look them up and give them a call. They can help.
ReplyDeleteThe key to copper theft prevention is to either mark it or track it. My company has two successful products that do both. One is a microdot that is suspended in a flurescent, non-removable glue that has a unique pin number for positive identification. Metal recyclers simply pass the copper through a hand held black light and the dots appear. They enter the pin number, which has been registered in national crime data base, and they have the owner. The GPS tracker has automatic motion alert, via cell phone, and tracks in 126 countries.
ReplyDeleteI was asked, by the Middle Tennessee Recyclers Assoc., to speak before the State of TN Sub-Commitee for Copper Theft Prevention (Feb.) View under State of TN archives. We have been featured on TV by three NBC affiliates in Nashville, Chattanooga and Paducah. Visit idconceptsllc.com for more information.
Security technology is improving and surveillance cameras are becoming more prominent. Some may worry about a "big brother" nation, but it beats the alternative.
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine wrote a brief article about this subject on his site below. He has been in the security business for over 15 years. It has links to videos of material theft in action as well as clips of news articles in the Dallas area about copper theft.
www.myntx.com/blog/post/2008/08/05/
Copper-Theft.aspx
I have designed and installed two systems that actually monitor the copper. One cut on a conductor and the Police are dispatched.
ReplyDeleteOne alarm is silent, and the other is Aud/Visible.
We have had two hits since the install. They got a wire nut, and 35 feet of 1 wire, between the two sites before they had to flee the scene from approaching officers. We will catch them, and we do not need staff to watch cameras 24/7. I've thought about marketing it, but I have a good job I like. It can be done with great results, and little cost compared to the theft losses.
You can email me at bossephotos@gmail.com for more info.