Protecting Your Property From Metal Theft This Winter

A recent surge in HVAC theft has left many properties at risk. Due to the copper coil within them, and copper prices rising with no signs of slowing down, thieves' targets have changed, and unfortunately, your property could be one of them. 

Why are Properties Perfect Targets for Metal Theft?

Unlike most critical infrastructure and transportation routes, properties may not present as being at risk of metal theft, but whether it is a retail store, residential community, office building, or vacant property, they are all targets for metal thieves.

Especially as Winter brings darker evenings, providing a sense of cover for them to commit crimes without the risk of being caught. 

HVAC thefts have also surged this year due to the copper pipe and coils inside them, and with most properties having one, the risk for theft only increases.

Copper has grown by 16.08% in value since the beginning of 2024 and is still on the rise currently, making it one of the most profitable non-ferrous metals for thieves. Once stolen, they simply sell it to salvage yards or metal recycling companies with no questions asked around its origin, leaving minimal chance of any repercussions.

Essentially, property can be an easy target for metal theft due to the opportunistic, unexpected element of this type of crime.

The Cost of Copper

Earlier this year, Recycling Today reported that a crime victim in western Michigan placed a value of nearly $200,000 on copper wire chops that were stolen, with a victim in St. Louis saying they faced a cost of $300,000 from three copper spools going missing.

Overall, copper and metal theft, in general, can be costly to property businesses, and the potential loss to finances is not the only obstacle it creates. 

Thieves will often cause property damage when stealing metal as in some situations, it will not be easily accessible, such as with HVAC units where they will either need to break the unit away from the property or break it down to access the inside. 

This criminal damage and loss of material can cause delay to any property development or the functioning of buildings, leading to further financial losses being incurred by property management companies, particularly for commercial buildings where business activity takes place. 

How to Prevent Metal Theft at Your Properties

For all property managers, protecting your properties from damage and criminal activity is a priority. With Winter specifically, Holiday closures cause many properties to be left vacant for a long period of time.

Finding the right preventative measures to take to support this is even more essential. 

Having supported the property management industry with security for over 20 years, we have success in preventing and deterring crime from various property types such as, metal theft. 

Gain an insight into WCCTV’s knowledge below on how to prevent metal theft taking place on your properties this Winter:

Reduce Property Accessibility

For thieves to be able to commit metal theft, they need to be able to access the property, so the first step to take is to reduce the chances of this.

Take a moment to review the outside of the property and its perimeter to check if there are any access points you may be unaware of or items that could be used to access the property with such as ladders.

Remove any items that could be used to access the property and if deemed appropriate, add fencing around the perimeter if you would like the additional access restriction to the property.

This could be a temporary action throughout Winter for properties where Holiday closures will be present or where vacant properties will be at higher risk.

Install a Surveillance System

For complete property protection, installing an external surveillance system to cover the perimeter of your property is the best method for this.

There are many surveillance solutions available such as, security guards and hardwired surveillance systems, however, utilizing Mobile Surveillance allows you to have portable security, live monitoring, and provides a clear crime deterrent in a more cost-effective manner.

With our 20 years of expertise, the LotGuard PRO Surveillance Trailer encompasses all of the above as well as additional features such as evidence gathering software, performance management tools, power autonomy, and a fully-managed service with support of monitoring centers.

During the Winter Months, your property requires reliable, robust security to withstand the increased threat of theft.

Find Out More from One of Our Surveillance Experts 

Hide or Cover Metal Material and Items Containing High-Value Metal

Over Winter, Holiday closures often leave properties vacant for longer periods of time than normal, which also means any metal material and items containing this will be placed at high risk of theft.

Due to this, it is best to store away, hide, or cover any metals or items with high-value metal within the property’s perimeter, whether that be inside the property itself or on the grounds.

This provides a layer of protection from thieves in locating the metal material or high-value items by ensuring they are not easily exposed to their view.

Make Sure Your Surveillance Service Can Be Remotely Monitored

Surveillance systems are effective forms of security, however, during Winter, property closures will likely take place due to the Holidays, leaving your property at risk.

This is where utilizing a remote monitoring surveillance system can provide that boost in reassurance on your security. 

There are multiple benefits behind remote monitoring for property managers, and we ensure our Solar Surveillance Trailers are fitted with remote capabilities in order to offer all the available benefits to this.

Combining AI video analytics with human monitoring, LotGuard can easily capture any suspicious movement and respond quickly, in hopes of preventing the crime in its tracks. 

It also works to live record the incident and contacts the relevant authority or law enforcement if required.

With remote monitoring, property managers and any other relevant person can be given access to be able to monitor the video through the surveillance cameras also, wherever they are and on any device. 

Add Strong Light Sources Outside the Property

As mentioned earlier, darker evenings start sooner in winter, providing thieves with more opportunities to partake in metal theft with fewer risks.

Therefore, implementing strong light sources around the property can remove that security thieves feel as their identities cannot be hidden as easily.

This allows any potential witnesses of any crime at night to report the crime and gain a clearer identification for law enforcement.

Ensure All Entrances and Exits are Locked Correctly

This may seem like simple advice, however, thefts do happen without forced entry more than you think.

With commercial properties, multiple individuals could be responsible for locking the property and if this is not followed correctly just once, thieves will take that opportunity if they can. 

Therefore, make sure there is clear policy and procedure on how any access points are locked and that these are followed by any person responsible. Particularly before a Holiday closure where any property will be left vacant for a longer period than normal.

Create a Visual Deterrent Outside the Property

Crime deterrence is key to stopping metal theft in its tracks or from even happening in the first place, therefore it is important to have a surveillance system to support this.

Although hardwired surveillance systems can live monitor and record any criminal activity taking place for evidence in future, most do not provide many crime deterrence features. 

By utilizing our LotGuard PRO Surveillance Trailers, there are multiple features that aim to deter crime from taking place:

• Trailer stands at 20ft tall 
• Voice-down audio
• Lights and sirens

We specifically designed the Surveillance Trailer to deter crime all-year round, in particular at Winter where crime deterrence is more likely to be required to provide a presence on the property. 

You can also rent them, so for temporary requirements such as Holiday closures, you are still able to receive high-quality security services suited to your timescale. 

Protect Your Property From Becoming A Victim of Metal Theft

Do not let your property become a victim of metal theft this Winter, instead get ahead of the criminals and prepare your property for the risks ahead with a secure surveillance solution. 

Although taking small steps towards security will help, for the most effective property prevention and protection, talk to one of our Surveillance experts about our LotGuard Surveillance Trailers today.

With installment taking a maximum of up to 20 minutes, your security can be set for the Winter season quickly without any reduction in surveillance service. 

Get in touch today