Several copper theft incidents are tied to a Florida crime ring. The prices of copper and other metals remain high. As a result, copper theft does not seem like it will slow down in Florida or other states and territories in North America.
Authorities arrested 12 men in a copper theft sting. The suspects are accused of stealing more than $500,000 USD worth of underground cable throughout the state of Florida. Local authorities said the investigation started in October 2014. Prosecutors for the case said seven out of 13 men worked as contractors for Florida Power & Light (FPL). The copper theft suspects were subcontracted to work on the underground systems.
A special agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Miami said the copper thefts posted a threat to the community. They made communities vulnerable to communication and electrical failures. One of the copper theft incidents damaged adjacent fiber optics that carried 911 communications.
A Florida state attorney said that the copper thieves wanted to put money in their pockets by severing electrical power lines. Local authorities said the suspects sold the stolen copper to metal recycling facilities in Miami-Dade County.
Prosecutors said that the suspects got away with the crime because they wore hard hats and work vests while committing the thefts. They also put the company’s logo on their own trucks to avoid getting caught.
Remote Video Monitoring Can Help Protect Against Copper Theft
On-site security cameras recorded the copper theft, but remote video monitoring was not reported. Remote video monitoring can help locate the suspects and find identifying information such as facial appearances, clothing styles, and colors. Our video surveillance solution can protect client property and work closely with law enforcement agencies to provide a high level of protection. The combination of ongoing live video surveillance and cooperation with local law enforcement helps deter and prevent criminal activity at industrial properties, warehouses spaces, recycling facilities, and other types of commercial properties.
The impacted companies in Florida are not clients of Stealth Monitoring.
Stealth Monitoring is the leader in remote video surveillance in Canada and the U.S, with over 400 employees, 11 offices, and 3 live video monitoring control centers. Stealth’s proactive video monitoring watches over 17,000 IP and CCTV security cameras. Our security solutions feature advanced technology and can detect and deter crime while reducing security guard and other expenses. Our remote monitoring service can reduce or even replace security guards at a fraction of the cost. A remote surveillance operator can see suspicious activity, activate a speaker warning, and call the local police.
Please call toll-free (855) STEALTH or contact us today for more information to protect your outdoor assets. Visit the Stealth website to see real arrest videos at construction sites, multifamily apartments, shopping centers, office buildings, warehouses, auto dealerships, and other commercial real estate propertiess
