Have you seen a change in number of condenser thefts w/ decline in copper price? - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Electric_Light · 12-13-2008, 03:47 PM

Not long ago, copper was worth over $4/lbs. I just checked commodity values and it's around $1.35/lbs.

Could you guys in HVAC trade tell me if there's been a change in number of customers needing a new condensing unit as a result of theft? I know that it's gotten bad enough at one point that even roof top units get torn apart, leaving behind the compressor and steel shell.

If any affect, is it bad, due to reduction calls related to theft related system damage, or good because of reduced cost of goods?

MALCO.New.York · 12-13-2008, 03:53 PM

It is a bit premature for a proper statistic.

SelfContract · 12-13-2008, 03:56 PM

The question is not "have you seen less copper theft??" but "have you seen more demands for copper"?.. The answer is LESSER demands now for China, therefore... less people buying it,....& lesser thefts as/will be results.

Supply-Demand Curve Always Rules.. and WINs !! There goes your answer too, no need to ask.

flashheatingand · 12-13-2008, 03:59 PM

Where do you live where stealing peoples condensing units is rampant? Every once in a while one would l hear of stealing wire from the before the house is sheet rocked, but that was rare. You have got to be a desperate M.F. to steal a condensing unit. The other day, I took the coils form an old condensing unit and evaporator to the scrap yard and got paid something like $5.00.

My answer is there has been a minimal difference since prices fell. But, damn, that is jacked to steal building materials. Why don't they just rob a titty bar? Lots of cash on the premesis, and the victimization is minimal.

Electric_Light · 12-13-2008, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashheatingand

Where do you live where stealing peoples condensing units is rampant? Every once in a while one would l hear of stealing wire from the before the house is sheet rocked, but that was rare. You have got to be a desperate M.F. to steal a condensing unit. The other day, I took the coils form an old condensing unit and evaporator to the scrap yard and got paid something like $5.00.

My answer is there has been a minimal difference since prices fell. But, damn, that is jacked to steal building materials. Why don't they just rob a titty bar? Lots of cash on the premesis, and the victimization is minimal.

When copper price was >$4.00, copper theft was a common topic in news. Anything from statues, air conditioners, pipes to even high voltage power lines, which more than a handful of thieves have been fried in the process of trying to steal live high voltage wires from substations.

http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/...recking-havoc/
http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=5109520

There are even cages for AC units
http://www.coolchangeair.com/PhotoGall.html

flashheatingand · 12-13-2008, 06:16 PM

I guess we are lucky here in Boise. I am not going to say that it did not happen, it is a rare occurance. Having said that, the scrap yards are required to check identification papers when cashing in for scrap.

If one is going to commit copper fraud, wouldn't it be easier to melt a bunch of pennies?

MALCO.New.York · 12-13-2008, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashheatingand

I guess we are lucky here in Boise. I am not going to say that it did not happen, it is a rare occurance. Having said that, the scrap yards are required to check identification papers when cashing in for scrap.

If one is going to commit copper fraud, wouldn't it be easier to melt a bunch of pennies?

Pennies are Aluminum with a Copper coating.

Scrape one and see!!

flashheatingand · 12-13-2008, 06:53 PM

I will have to check it out...

still, I would bet that the weight of the pennies would be more valuable than the currency itself

Electric_Light · 12-13-2008, 06:59 PM

It's actually zinc inside. If you make a small cut on the side, then etch it with muriatic acid, the inside will become complete hollow leaving behind the copper shell.

1982 and earlier pennies were made of pure copper.

concretemasonry · 12-13-2008, 09:05 PM

The theft is more likely rlated to the price/availability of drugs and not just the copper price. When drugs get harder to get, you may see more thefts.

flashheatingand · 12-13-2008, 10:07 PM

I agree that the theft is likely due to m.f's needing money for drugs. However, drugs will never be that difficult to obtain. Too much money involved. If they became harder to obtain, there would be more drug thefts instead of stealing scap materials.

MALCO.New.York · 12-13-2008, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electric_Light

It's actually zinc inside. If you make a small cut on the side, then etch it with muriatic acid, the inside will become complete hollow leaving behind the copper shell.

1982 and earlier pennies were made of pure copper.

Yeah!! That is what I said! Zinc!!!!!!

Bodger · 12-14-2008, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MALCO.New.York

Yeah!! That is what I said! Zinc!!!!!!

For years, if you took a penny and scraped it on the sidewalk a few times to make a flat edge, the parking meters in Los Angeles would accept it as a dime. I never did this mind you, I only heard about it or saw it done maybe, but I never actually did it. I never kept a bunch of flat edge pennies in my truck either.

Copper theft from job sites in CA was rampant a few months ago. Also, the areas where there were a lot of foreclosed abandoned homes were getting hit hard too. I don't know if it has decreased along with the price of the scrap.
I also read somewhere that the theft of manhole covers is out of control, even in China.