[The Mountaineer]

I know that some homes in The Villages are not occupied year-round.

Has there been any problem with copper thieves, organized criminals with the tools to create $1 billion a year in damage in America? Ohio where I live is No. 1 on the copper theft list, but I didn't see Florida in the top 5.

The thieves prowl with their equipment, look for vacant homes with for-sale signs, or maybe even case The Villages homes for no sign of occupancy for a few weeks. They move in and out in less than an hour, cutting out anything that's copper.

Copper sells for about $3 a pound on the open market.

[village dreamer]

most homes have plastic piping, no copper.

[The Mountaineer]

Originally Posted by village dreamer

most homes have plastic piping, no copper.

Maybe the rest of the country should abide by the Morse code. Pun intended. Copper thievery is a major problem in Ohio.

[karostay]

Copper thievery not an issue
Saving chairs at the town square That's another story

[NoMoSno]

There was a guy stealing outdoor brass water spigots, from businesses along 441, last winter.
He was caught....

Someone else was caught stealing golf cart batteries, for the lead.

[jblum315]

Plenty of dog poop.
No copper pipes.

[dave from deland]

People live close to each other in TV. I don't think the copper thieves would target the air conditioning units for fear a neighbor would report them.

[Omike]

There is occasionally copper wire theft in the new construction areas. It comes and goes. Not a terrible problem though.

[VT2TV]

We have thought about lightening rods. I mentioned concern to my hubby about someone trying to steal the copper wires they use. The installer he asked told him that the places who would be the ones to buy the copper were all familiar with the copper the installers used for the rods, and would not purchase it. Now that sounds good if all the bad people know about it. But it wouldn't help us if they didn't, and they stole the wires. Don't know if it is true or not, but don't want to chance it.

[manaboutown]

Copper thieves seem to be all over the planet. Last summer I was in Denmark and some of the rail lines were shut down for a day because overnight some of the copper lines had been stolen. I hope they electrocute themselves!

[lynxville]

Florida is notorious for air-conditioner thieves. I am told the salvage value is only $35. Someone buys them and I am sure they are not asking for a photo Id. But when I take aluminum cans to recycle they ask for photo Id and have cameras.

[looneycat]

Originally Posted by The Mountaineer

I know that some homes in The Villages are not occupied year-round.

Has there been any problem with copper thieves, organized criminals with the tools to create $1 billion a year in damage in America? Ohio where I live is No. 1 on the copper theft list, but I didn't see Florida in the top 5.

The thieves prowl with their equipment, look for vacant homes with for-sale signs, or maybe even case The Villages homes for no sign of occupancy for a few weeks. They move in and out in less than an hour, cutting out anything that's copper.

Copper sells for about $3 a pound on the open market.

not an issue

[The Mountaineer]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

Copper thieves seem to be all over the planet. Last summer I was in Denmark and some of the rail lines were shut down for a day because overnight some of the copper lines had been stolen. I hope they electrocute themselves!

A guy from Lakeland was electrocuted stealing copper in Polk County in August. Another fried in Connecticut this month. And in South Carolina. And in Indianapolis. And, of course, in Ohio where I live.

Copper thievery isn't one or two people doing it. It's organized. They come with the tools, after casing the homes. For-sale signs in front of empty houses are like tossing raw meat to a tiger with these guys.

Again, I'm glad to hear The Villages uses plastic rather than copper plumbing. But the copper mob will take anything made of copper. At $3 a pound, there's big profit in it.

Even if it means electrocution -- often because they are stealing copper from power company substations!

[DonH57]

When I worked in Massachusetts most salvage yards would not take specific amounts of copper off just anyone. You had to prove you held a trade license conducting business as such to bring in copper. State inspectors would sometimes make surprise stings to catch em buying off unlicensed persons. We once had them show up to our shop to see if we would sell them any copper we had not yet taken to salvage. It doesn't take any time to steal copper from a/c or electrical systems. Some people have died trying.

[rubicon]

A friend of mine was a claim manager for a Utility. I called him seeking advice on an issue I had. He responded by telling me in an adjacent state a thief illegally broke in to one of their electrical utilities and was in the process of disconnecting all the copper there with the intent to steal it and sell it as he admitted to the police he had done many times. However during the process he touched the wrong wire and electrocuted himself causing loss of use in both arms. Despite his illegal activities a jury awarded him $2 million for his injuries.