It was a normal morning like any other, our Managing Director, Dean Barton of Approved Electrix, could recall. He was with his team of residential electricians in Hampton, working on a row of townhouses. It was business as usual, and they even seemed like they might get ahead of schedule.
When they arrived at the work site, though, they quickly discovered that overnight, nearly $3000 worth of copper wiring and cabling had been stolen from each unit on the lot, most definitely by a copper wire thief who’d be planning to sell the wire as scrap copper – for a fraction of what it costs to acquire for electricians and their customers.
The copper cabling was ripped out from each of the walls and power points. Most of it had already been installed into the walls, and plastering was due to commence in two days.
This was a major setback. Not only was Dean’s team down $3000 for the copper itself, but over 40 hours of labour were now wasted, too. He argued back and forth with the builders on-site that they should have secured the townhouses overnight and that the loss was their fault, but despite the arguing, he simply had to bear the cost himself.
Who is at risk of copper wire theft in Victoria?
Dean is not alone, of course. Reports of copper wire theft from building sites are increasing around Melbourne, with more incidents being reported each month. In July, it was reported by The Latrobe Valley Express that nearly $780,000 worth of copper was stolen from 50 separate telecommunication pits across Melbourne’s north, resulting in 11 arrests. And just this month, 9 News reported that an armed man was allegedly caught red-handed stealing copper cabling from a Melbourne city street.
We asked Dean why there was so much copper theft occurring in the area, and he explained that it’s likely due to a combination of ongoing price surges and electrical renovation sites not being properly secured.
Commercial and strata properties are often more secure due to their increased security measures. As such, a commercial electrician is less likely to experience copper wire theft since these buildings are often more difficult for thieves to gain access to. But residential sites—especially in regional and suburban areas—are more likely to experience theft because everyday consumers don’t often consider securing their lots, or know how to.
Older Melbourne homes are especially vulnerable since they often require lengthier repairs and renovations, thus allowing more time for a thief to strike. Copper wire theft from rental properties has also seen an increase lately, since they are often left vacant for extended periods.
How much can copper wire thieves get for your cables?
Copper prices have fluctuated between $11 and $14 AUD per kg over the past few years, likely incentivising thieves to target unprotected and vulnerable areas for small bouts of cash.
However, the value of scrapped copper is a measly fraction of the total cost to electricians and builders. With prices varying, a 100-metre roll of 2.5 mm 2c + E TPS copper wire valued at $30 may be sold wholesale for nearly $220 to sole traders but bought as scrap for only $3.5 a kg. That means you’d need to sell a lot of scrap copper to make any real money.
Dean mentioned that the whole ordeal is frustrating, too, since to sell scrap metal in Victoria, the seller is required to present ID and a registered ABN, or else a percentage of the profits can be withheld.
Additionally, anyone dealing in scrap metal in Victoria is required to register themselves as a second-hand dealer, as well as keep records of those transactions. Payment in cash is also prohibited, so thieves are obligated to receive funds for their scrap copper via cheques and electronic funds.
It seems like so much hassle for such a small payday – and such a big hit to your home build or reno budget.
Our simple site security measures to deter copper wire thieves
Over his career, he has seen his fair share of copper wire theft, and in nearly every instance, there was one recurring theme: they all were preventable.
Our team at Approved Electrix have used their experience to recommend cost-effective security measures to our customers, supporting them in protecting themselves against copper wire theft during home builds and electrical renovations. But we believe all Melburnians deserve access to these insider tips.
Below are all our top practical and simple, sparkie-approved security measures that anyone can adopt to protect their sites and materials against theft.
Fortify your site layout
All building and renovation site layouts should be optimised for security. Even if your building project is in a residential zone, you ought to fortify it against thieves, regardless.
Many of our builders and will surround their work sites with barriers or temporary fencing to ward off trespassers and protect your copper wiring and other building materials throughout the day. You can limit the number of access points to a site by simply using a keypad lock and a chain.
It will be less tempting for would-be thieves to attempt robbing your site if it doesn’t look inviting. By fortifying your site with barriers, you can deter trespassers at minimal cost.
Prioritise laying your copper wire cabling
Copper wire is easy to steal when it’s been left out in the open. So if you have copper wire to install, consider prioritising this installation above other elements of your home build or renovation if possible.
Avoid leaving newly laid wiring exposed overnight without monitoring it, too. The shorter the time that copper sits exposed on-site, the lower the risk of theft.
Security lighting
Dean asserts that one sure-fire way to keep your building and renovation sites secure is by installing security lighting. “When you have renovations, your electricians may set up a temporary power supply, so they could easily set up a temporary lighting supply, too,” Dean said. “No one really does it often, but you can still ask for it if you want.” And you should.
Your site can be equipped with temporary lighting that uses thermal and audio sensors to automate activation. Dean explained that a job site with automated security lighting can deter potential theft.
Our team often install outdoor lighting and floodlights with sensors that are both automated and WiFi-compatible, which can help secure any future electrical work on a property. Just make sure all your security measures have a backup battery in case your main power supply gets cut off or compromised.
Keep your WiFi connected
In a similar vein, Dean stressed the importance of keeping your building site’s WiFi connection going at all times, especially when you are not present. “Keep your internet going, so you can always see what’s going on,” Dean encouraged us.
Keeping your WiFi connected on-site will help your security cameras and sensors notify you of any suspicious activity. This way, you can be alerted during the night and stop theft in its tracks.
Window coverings
Another simple security measure Dean suggested was installing window coverings during your electrical renovation. If thieves are unable to see through your windows, then they won’t know what they can take.
This can be especially useful for those renovating or rewiring older houses with heritage façades. Even if it doesn’t look like much is going on in your property from the street, prospective copper thieves can still hazard a glance through uncovered windows to quickly find evidence of a renovation – and where there’s a renovation, there’s likely to be exposed copper wiring and other potentially valuable building materials.
Don’t store all your electrical appliances in one room
Although many homeowners have gotten into the habit of storing all of their electrical appliances in one room during a renovation, our sparkies actually warn that this could make your property a more enticing target to burglars. If all your big-ticket appliances and electrical components are kept in the same room, thieves can simply target that space and snatch all your valuable items and materials at once.
Dean explained that this is why he recommends that his client store their cabling and appliances in transportable storage rather than keeping items unsecured directly on the job site.
Get a lock for your meter box
Anyone with access to your meter box has the power to literally turn off all your lights whenever they want. Now consider the fact that your meter box is often placed right outside your home and accessible to anyone – surely you’d want to pop a lock on it!
According to Dean, though, meter box locks in Melbourne are actually few and far between. “Most people we speak to don’t have a meter box lock installed,” he said. “This is surprising since locking your meter box is a simple thing anyone can do to save themselves from being robbed.”
Once a prospective thief has scoped your house out, all they need to do is turn your power off and leave you panicking in the dark as they busily cut and remove cabling from your property. They will also have successfully powered down any added security measures, too, like sensors and lights, meaning they may be able to sneak in and out without a trace.
During any of our meter box upgrade jobs, we recommend consumers buy a specially approved power industry padlock that’s VSIC compliant. This way, you can avoid the risks of your home being plunged into darkness and robbed blind by an opportunistic wire thief.
Keep in touch with your neighbours
One last easy security measure you can use to protect yourself against copper wire theft is simply keeping in touch with your neighbours. Inform your neighbours that you have electrical work planned and ask them to keep an eye out for anything suspicious. Your next-door neighbour may see someone on or near your property and may be able to warn you well in advance of any incidents of theft.
Below, you will find a handy infographic featuring all of the above safety measures!
Safeguard your Electrical Renovations with these Simple Site Security Measures
Dean Barton is a local industry expert who has provided top-of-the-line electrical servicing for over 25 years. He told us that, ultimately, the advice he would offer to anyone worried about copper wire theft at their sites would be to do what he does: prepare and prevent.
Unfortunately, many Melbourne homeowners have had their building projects soured by an ill-fated run-in with a copper wire thief. It can set progress back by weeks or months and eat away at funds and savings.
Thankfully, these simple, common-sense, and cost-effective measures can help greatly curb your risks of being targeted by copper wire thieves.
When choosing your next electrician, consider working with sparkies who have your security and safety in mind, like Dean and the rest of the team at Approved Electrix.
If you have any questions about how to keep your electrical work sites secure, give us a ring. We are waiting for your call!
