BiggerPockets Founder · HI · Member since 2008 · 16k+ posts · 5k+ votes
I've got to vent a bit here . . .
I just checked my voicemail a few minutes ago to hear that several of the Central A/C units in one of my properties were stolen! :shoot: This building is out of state and I do have a management company that runs it, but I haven't been able to reach anyone to get the full details . . .
Talk about a powerless feeling.
I guess I need to wait to hear more, but I'm simply stewing here!!!
Honolulu, HI · Member since 2008 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
18y
Originally posted by "AdamT":
The problem with copper is that there is no way for the recycling centers to tell if something is stolen. There is no way to catch the thieves unless they are caught in the act.
Hogwash!
Well, at least partly... We have recently had two "recycling" businesses closed because the recyclers did not check ID's, did not follow procedures, and literally bought complete spools of wire stamped with the local electric company's name on it.
IMHO, 99% of all junk dealers/recyclers/pawn shops KNOWINGLY buy stolen goods for their own greedy profits. When they do get caught, it is rare that they are adequately punished. The same goes for the crackhead thieves that steal your copper pipes and ac units...the repercussions are insignificant. Sad, but nonetheless true. Sorry, let me get back down off my soapbox...this subject really irritates me!
Honolulu, HI · Member since 2008 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
19y
Sadly, yes. If they were late model, they steal'm to resell, if older,they strip'm for the scrap value. Lately here they have been ripping down copper gutters, cutting out exposed copper piping, and stealing the street light wiring!
You have to ALWAYS think safety & security first! Don't "hide" the condenser unit behind shrubs or privacy fencing. and be sure your security lighting is all "dusk-to-dawn". We use a lot of split systems here, which means the condensers are smaller, and frequently they will be mounted rooftop, or second story height.
Depending on your specific circumstances, the price of video security systems has really dropped making them accessible for a variety of purposes. Catch'm and JAIL the rat ba**tards!
Real Estate Investor · London · Member since 2008 · 3k+ posts · 74 votes
19y
Would you mind stating what city the property is located in?
I was talking to a landlord who recently upgraded 29 units (all SFR or duplexes) with air conditioning. I was wondering if he will see some go missing. About half are window units and half are central air systems. Folks stealing for the copper or tenants leaving with an extra item in their stuff.
He has had problems before with copper being stripped in places he was buying (REOs). He is in Dayton OH.
Real Estate Investor · OH · Member since 2008 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
19y
Josh,
I am not doing central air in any future units, except my very best SFHs. From now on, everything else will just use the tenant's window air-conditioning units. I also have not been putting copper waterlines in any units. I'm using pex for everything.
It's sad, but there are a lot of criminal scumbags out there and the law does very little to them, even if they're caught!
Theft of air conditioning units, copper wire, and copper pipe is out of control here in Ohio. We just upgraded an electrical service yesterday and we put in aluminum wire because of the stealing. One of the houses I just bought had the meter base broken when they tried to steal the incoming electrical cable. Too bad they weren't fried! I'd buy a ticket to see that show!
Residential Real Estate Agent · OH · Member since 2008 · 553 posts · 24 votes
19y
Oh the joys of being a property owner. I have some clients right now that are building a new home. Movein was supposed to be end of April and we may make mid July. They have had the copper pipe stripped from the home twice!
On a recent installment of Flip this House, Montelongo left his rotweiler
in the house he was flipping at nighttime--bad area thought someone would mess with the place. One suggestion--TELL THE CONTRACTORS. Poor guys showed up in the morning--opened the door and :eyes: Thankfully, they were able to shut it before becoming breakfast. Of course, that probably wouldn't have helped you Josh. May have been useful against people stealing the pipes and such.
Real Estate Investor · OH · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 86 votes
19y
I have looked at a number of foreclosures that have had the siding torn off, copper removed and even the furnace blower motor taken. When you have to replace that stuff it only adds thousands of dollar to the rehab cost. The strange part about this is that some of these home were out in the country and the neighbors would have called the cops if they thought anything was suspicious, which leaves me to believe that someone in the loop is calling their contractor friend and then when the contractor shows up in the driveway, no one ever gives it a second thought.
Rental Property Investor · Mercer Island, WA · Member since 2008 · 22k+ posts · 14k+ votes
19y
I bought a foreclosure where the previous owner stole the electric furnace before leaving. Along with the wiring all the way back to the box. And the door knobs. And the kitchen cabinet pulls. And the toilet. I'm sure they would have taken the siding too, except it's that old asbestos stuff. It was in MO, too, though about 100 miles west of St. Louis.
There was another Flip This House where stuff kept disappearing and Richard and his brother (I think) laid in wait drinking beers waiting for the guys. Then went chasing after them. That could have turned out bad!
I was just reading your post concerning the stolen a/c units in St. Louis, and just wanted to say that my co worker had the same issue. In St. Louis also.
Your property isn't located on Shaw Avenue is it?
The reason these units were stolen (so everyone thinks) is for the copper value inside them.
They've got a copper theft ring in the Carolinas. Next door tenant bragged they had stripped copper from a house and were coming after our next vacan cy. Put a fence up with large no trespassing signs on their side; call the absentee landlord and told them they needed to clean up the apartment house and stop renting to criminals and stood in the yard and yelled at them.
Told the local cops everything and they went next door to interview the culprits. Hey, landlord took down the ivy, power sprayed the house and vowed to get better non criminal tenants. Had left a ..get this realtor and her builder husband in charge of the building and they'd let it get out of control.
Cooperate with law enforcement if you know anything. They really are interested in my opinion. Copper theft is BIG in our area.
BiggerPockets Founder · HI · Member since 2008 · 16k+ posts · 5k+ votes
18y
Originally posted by "RKAJ":
Your property isn't located on Shaw Avenue is it?
The reason these units were stolen (so everyone thinks) is for the copper value inside them.
It isn't on Shaw ave, no. The units are stolen both for the copper inside and so other resale shops can profit from them. Apparently there is a pretty good secondary market for these units in St. Louis, as well as a demand for the copper.
Yes there is a big market for copper here in St. Louis. I just had my 7th commercial unit destroyed in less than 3 weeks. I cannot get a person to cage them quick enough and I have just watched as each is plucked off one by one. The police have done NOTHING, and basically could care less. These units are HUGE AND EXPENSIVE! I don't think I can report the last couple of units b/c I am fearful my insurance is going to get cancelled. So frustrating! If only my car were a little more inconspicuous and I was a big tough guy, I would be tempted to patrol my properties the next few weeks until the cages are in. HELPLESS! :protest:
General Contractor · Midland, TX · Member since 2008 · 160 posts · 24 votes
18y
I work in the commercial construction. We fired an employee a few weeks ago because he tried walking out with a large copper fitting. The storage container that the eletrician uses at one of arr jobs has a security alarm on the door. I was talking to our electrician the other day. The problem with copper is that there is no way for the recycling centers to tell if something is stolen. There is no way to catch the thieves unless they are caught in the act. The problem is that thieves are doing thousands of dollars worth of damage for a few hundred dollars.
This is happening all over the country.
Honolulu, HI · Member since 2008 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
18y
Originally posted by "AdamT":
The problem with copper is that there is no way for the recycling centers to tell if something is stolen. There is no way to catch the thieves unless they are caught in the act.
Hogwash!
Well, at least partly... We have recently had two "recycling" businesses closed because the recyclers did not check ID's, did not follow procedures, and literally bought complete spools of wire stamped with the local electric company's name on it.
IMHO, 99% of all junk dealers/recyclers/pawn shops KNOWINGLY buy stolen goods for their own greedy profits. When they do get caught, it is rare that they are adequately punished. The same goes for the crackhead thieves that steal your copper pipes and ac units...the repercussions are insignificant. Sad, but nonetheless true. Sorry, let me get back down off my soapbox...this subject really irritates me!
Commercial Real Estate Broker · Burlington, NC · Member since 2008 · 6 posts · 0 votes
18y
Has anyone tried marking these units with some type of identification #'s. Seems you could have them stamped in some hidden area's and later they could be identified. Probably wouldn't work for units that are scrapped for copper, but the newer units that are sold in secondary market it might work. Just a thought.
Hi all,
I am new to the board, but I have also had this problem in Bryan, TX. In this town, there have been so many stolen A/C units, they have a couple detectives that are completely dedicated to this problem. On the street where my fourplex is, over the Thanksgiving Holidays, crackheads (or so the police believe) stole 16 units in one night, and left only three of them. Two of the three were on my building. The guy that owns the place next to mine had his management company build a cage. my next two a/c's were stolen over the next two weeks. i am thinking of building a fence around them since cages are hard & expensive.
ugh! not sure if slowing them down with a fence is enough....
Some people are telling me to forget putting A/C units back in my 4 plex, but to just put in window units. 3 out of my 4 units are HUD Section 8 housing, so I don't know if they will accept that since I technically have central A/C.
I hate the idea, since window units look so ghetto and we have been meeting with the other owners and trying to get rid of section 8 people and clean the are up...
ARGH! I am so mad!
Any suggestions on the best way to keep these people from stealing my units....they are definitely stripping them down. OH and by the way, the police told me Sec. 8 was telling people to Spray Paint the units with a Flourescent pink or yellow circle with a dot or something unique, then notify the scrap yards and police of your mark in case they get stolen and to tell the scrap yards not to take any condensors with flourescent paint and to identify the people bringing them in. The police did this and arrested 2 guys last week at one of the scrap centers, but they also told me that the other scrap center is very shady and they don't care what they buy!
The police suggested I get a gun and wait for them, then when they show up, shoot them and make sure they are dead or they will probably sue me back.