How big the problem really is.
Copper wire theft has become a serious issue across the United States. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that businesses, municipalities, construction sites, and energy substations lose more than $1 billion worth of copper wire each year.
Why do people steal copper from light poles?
Copper wire theft in light poles has become rampant because of the increase in scrap copper prices in the U.S. Prices for scrap copper have escalated greatly over the last 10 years, and the bad guys out there want to make a quick buck via metal recyclers and scrap yards.
Common targets for copper theft.
Copper wire thieves often target light poles, energy substations, businesses, construction sites, railroads, telephone companies, commercial buildings, and any other business that’s using copper wire.
Copper wire theft can result in huge losses for businesses, service disruption, unsafe conditions, and costly repairs. Many companies have been slapped with contractual penalties in millions due to service disruption caused by copper wire theft. So this is not an issue to be taken lightly.
Protect your copper instead of replace it.
Although replacing the stolen copper wires in light poles can be a temporary solution, you must learn how to prevent copper wire theft. This is certainly a sustainable solution to this problem that is sweeping the U.S. like an epidemic. In this article, we’ll look at how to prevent copper wire theft in light poles to help you protect your light poles from unauthorized access and vandalism.
Preventing copper wire theft not only saves you money but also guarantees safe conditions and ensures service is not disrupted.
Steps to protecting
Install security camera systems You can prevent theft of copper wire in light poles, construction sites, municipalities, and any other places where copper wires are installed with the help of top-rated security camera systems.
Security camera systems allow you to monitor your light poles from a central point. Copper thieves are wary of light poles with security cameras, so the fear of being taped deters criminals from targeting your installations. This means copper wire thieves are much less likely to target your light poles.
The best thing about using security camera systems to prevent copper theft in light poles is that they work both as a deterrent and a recovery tool. If the worst happens and the criminals rip out your copper wires, the security camera systems can help identify the criminals.
Besides, security camera systems are a cost-effective way to prevent copper wire theft as they require little maintenance. Install cut-resistant fencing or a wall
Another effective way to prevent copper wire theft in light poles is by installing solid fencing around your light poles. Setting up anti-cut and anti-climb fencing for your light poles can keep criminals from even approaching your installations.
A good fence for your light poles should be hard to climb over. That means it should be at least 8 feet tall, have few horizontal rails, and should be spiked or pointed at the top.
If copper thieves learn that your light pole installations are hard to be broken into, they’ll most likely look for another easy target.
The scale of the fence should be commensurate with the value of the light poles being protected. Otherwise, you’ll end up spending a lot of money on a preventive strategy that doesn’t make sense in terms of cost-effectiveness.
However, even with a cut-resistant fence, determined copper thieves can use sophisticated mechanisms to gain access to your light poles. This commonly happens in remote locations. That’s why it’s a good idea to install fence sensor technology around the fence to detect intrusion attempts.
There are many fence sensor technology devices in the market that you can use to prevent copper wire theft.
Hire security guards
Although this can be an expensive option, it’s worth it if service disruption resulting from copper wire theft comes with consequences such as costly penalties. The presence of security guards where your light poles are installed can deter copper wire thieves.
Put up warning signs
Putting up warning signs letting copper thieves know the deadly consequences that can result from trying to steal copper wires from light poles can help deter the crime. Although this cannot stop a determined criminal, at least it can dissuade criminals from stealing copper wires if they know that the act can endanger their lives. Report copper wire theft to proper authorities
If your copper wires for your lights poles are stolen, it’s advisable to report the matter to the police. The police have extensive resources to conduct investigations and arrest the criminals. Charging copper wire thieves according to the law helps to deter future copper wire theft. Besides, reporting copper wire theft to the relevant authorities can help you make an insurance claim.
Use a light pole locking hand hole cover
This is the best way to prevent copper wire theft from light poles. A light pole locking hand hole cover protects the normally open and accessible cover on light poles to prevent criminals from stealing copper wire.
Essentially, this device prevents unauthorized access to light pole hand holes; thereby keeping out the criminals. A locking hand hole cover comes with an oversized backing bar and two bolts that strongly secure the device to the light pole.
The front cover plate is held in place with a 4-digit combination lock, which is shielded in the body of the locking hand hole cover. This design helps to protect the device from bolt cutters and power tools while keeping the dials easily accessible.
Generally, modern locking hand hole covers come with everything you need to prevent copper theft from light poles.
However, keep in mind that all locking hand hole covers are not the same. There are many inferior locking hand hole covers in the market, so you'll need to be more careful when shopping for these devices.
Using inferior locking hand hole covers means copper thieves will have it easy, and you’ll not get the best value for your money.
There you have it. With these tips on how to prevent copper wire theft, you can deter unauthorized access to your light poles and keep out copper thieves. It's better to take precautionary measures and prevent copper wire theft than to replace stolen copper wires now and again.
Conclusion
As we’ve already mentioned above, the best way to prevent copper wire theft is using a light pole locking hand hole cover. If you’re looking for the best locking hand hole cover, look no further than Light Pole Defender.
Light Pole Defender boasts superior features, including keyless entry, universal fit, and a modern design. It's also easy to install and comes in several color options to ensure the best look. Visit our website to learn more about Light Pole Defender.