Crime & Safety

Tips For Preventing Copper Theft

A release from the Palos Park Police Department

One of the greatest challenges in identifying and catching copper thieves, is that they often dress like repairmen you would normally expect to see working in an electrical panel or loading copper into the back of a truck. People passing by see them and think nothing of it, and this simple fact has emboldened many thieves into daring daylight thefts.

Tips as the best line of defense against copper theft:

  • If you have information about a copper theft, report it immediately
  • Immediately report any suspicious activity
  • When away from home, make sure your house and outbuildings aresecurely locked. If you are gone for an extended period of time, notify police and have a trusted friend or neighbor watch your property. Put lights on a timer device, stop mail, newspaper  and deliveries. Both homeowners and businesses should consider installing exterior motion-sensor lights
  • Store all tools and wire cutters in secure location
  • Store all materials containing copper in a secured building
  • Secure construction sites, consider hiring a night security guard
  • Secure vacant houses, and other buildings. These are common targets of copper thieves


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