ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Solution for wire thefts?

Seriously does anyone here not lock up their copper?

What about wire you have installed on a job?
How do you lock up copper feeders pulled in conduit from a gutter to a panel can?

One of my favorite competitors had about $30,000 worth of 750mcm stolen last year right out of the pipe. What they could not pull out they cut the tails off. He suspects his own labor, but it could have been anyone on the job.

I had a shipping container broken into last year too; all it had in it was scrap from the job and some very expensive fiber optic cable. They took it all. Yeah locks keep honest people honest, because crooks just use a torch and cut the bars right off. The real bummer came when the place I rented the container from billed me for repairs.

Selling copper should be no different than a pawn shop, ID should be required. A check or voucher for the money would be good too.

OUCH!!! That hurts!

I agree that had to be his own employees, because you're not getting out THAT amount of cable without a really good tugger. Can you picture a few guys trying to pull 750MCM out by hand? Now that would make for a hilarious video!

I'm beginning to wonder if the solution for at the least for "big time" copper theft like this is simply aluminum. Our aluminum can deposit is probably greater than the scrap value of the can itself, and you see aluminum can litter all over.

Joe

Striaght shot - no problem! In or through an LB or more than 2 bends - now that would be funny....

Anyway - I think I have the perfect solution - "Wireless power"

I have the following clause in my contract which covers this. "Once the materials have been installed they become an integral part of the premises, therefore the Customer shall be responsible for any cases of damage or theft that occurs to installed materials."