By Frank Ross
When the number, size and scope of copper thefts become large enough to threaten the nation’s power grid, the seriousness of the crime comes to the attention of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. For copper thieves that can’t be good news.
Transformers contain approximately 50 lbs. of copper with the potential to yield $200 for copper thieves. In addition, these thefts result in thousands of dollars in damages, replacement costs, and environmental clean-up.
In response to the pervasive nature of copper crime, the FBI Criminal Intelligence Section has completed an intelligence assessment, and reported their findings in an evaluation that speaks to the seriousness of what was once a crime with only local impact. The analysis highlights copper theft and its impact on critical infrastructure within the U.S., perpetrated by individuals and organized groups motivated by quick profits and a wide variety of vulnerable targets.
Their key judgments go beyond the crime itself; expressing concern for the impact these criminals are having upon national security. Although copper thieves routinely target vacant business and homes, when they steal from electrical substations, cellular towers, telephone land lines, railroads and public water wells they have an impact far greater than a simple theft. Copper stolen from these targets disrupt public power distribution, telecommunications, other utilities and transportation, but these outages also have a significant impact on emergency services. When emergency services are disrupted it presents an unacceptable risk to both public safety and national security.
According to an open source article, published on 4 April 2008, five tornado warning sirens in the Jackson, Mississippi, area did not warn residents of an approaching tornado because copper thieves had stripped the sirens of copper wiring, thus rendering them inoperable. In another incident that year, residents in Polk County, Florida found themselves without power following a theft of copper wire that was stripped from an active transformer at a Tampa Electric Company (TECO) power facility. The financial loss in that incident was approximately $500,000 and does not include the losses experienced by customers impacted indirectly.
Farmers in rural areas are also potential victims because of the remoteness of their operations. A copper stealing epidemic in Pinal County, Arizona had a $10 million impact when copper was stripped from irrigation wells and pumps. High replacement costs were insignificant compared to the loss of crops which ultimately impacted the local food market.
Copper thieves vary from enterprising individuals feeding a drug habit to large organized groups who operate in loose association with each other to steal the copper and turn it into easy money through their fencing operations.
This criminal activity is being fueled by the demand for copper in developing nations such as China and India, whose robust industries require ever increasing amounts of copper. But, other supply related incidents have also had an impact. A landslide at the Freeport-McMoran Copper mine in Grasberg, Indonesia in October 2003 and a worker’s strike at the El Abra copper mine in Clama, Chile in November 2004 set the stage for short supply. Following on the heels of short supply, increased demand pushed the price of copper to a 500% increase between January 2001 and March of 2008.
Insulated wire is often transported to remote areas where the insulation is burned off in a steel drum leaving behind just the copper wire.
As the global supply of copper continues to tighten, increasing the market for illegally procured copper that is funneled through recycling operations for high profits. On the positive side, industry officials have taken countermeasures to address national problem of copper theft. These efforts include the installment of physical and technological security measures, increased collaboration among the various industry sectors, and the development of law enforcement partnerships intended to pool and share information on cases and criminals. Also, numerous states are taking the offensive by enacting legislation or enhancing existing laws that regulate the scrap metal industry. Among these changes are requirements for increased record keeping and increased penalties for copper theft and noncompliant scrap dealers.
The challenges law enforcement officers face are limited resources available to investigate and follow leads required to catch the criminals. To date, a very small percentage of perpetrators are arrested and convicted. And even when they are convicted, copper thefts are typically addressed as misdemeanors. Individuals convicted of copper theft generally pay relatively low fines, serve short prison terms and resume their illicit enterprise once released.
It is hoped that the seriousness of the impact these crimes are having on the nation’s infrastructure as well as our national security will have a positive effect on both the laws and those who enforce them. Until that happens, if you see suspicious activity around a vacant business, home or electrical facility -call 911 and report it immediately.
You can also protect the copper you purchase by taking advantage of Storm’s imprinting process. For a small charge you can have your business name and phone number stamped into your electrical components. Another excellent choice is to have your copper tinned, which destroys its value to recyclers in addition to adding a protective coat that will extend the life of your connections.
For a quick quote, call 888-334-2177 or log on to stormgrounding.com.
