Thieves will go to great lengths to steal copper. I had the displeasure of showing this home to a client; of course there weren’t photos like this to warn us of the damage. It costs about $4,000-$5,000 to replace an air conditioning unit plus more to install new copper pipes and ductwork and to repair drywall and repaint.
The thieves stole copper from the A/C unit outside, then moved inside the house to get copper in the wall.
They stole copper piping from the ceiling. Since this is a vaulted ceiling, they either used an extended ladder or crawled into the attic and pushed down.
They really had at it in the attic where the condenser is/was. The A/C ductwork was torn, ripped, and removed.
Attic access from the master bedroom closet.
More copper stolen from another part of the house.
All that work for $2.50/pound. Arizona enacted some laws that require people to register if they are recycling large quantities with recycling companies.
6 responses so far ↓
1 cregazw // Nov 20, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Mmmmm Yum! Copper. Must get copper.
2 Wayne // Nov 21, 2009 at 2:35 am
The police should patrol these uninhabited homes. The thieves will say, “Hey look! Copper!” And the police outside will come in and say, “Somebody call me?”
3 WildCard~ // Nov 21, 2009 at 11:45 am
LMAO~
I think rats done this. Realtor are taught to say it was the copper thefts ….;)
4 M Wells // Nov 21, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Vandalism and theft from unattended properties can now be thwarted with a new self-networking surveillance camera called the “Gotcha! cam.
The camera only needs AC power, and a telephone line or any type of available network, WiFi, cellular broadband, even a public wireless network from a nearby house.
The camera does not require anything other than an inexpensive router and a source of power .
The cameras are inexpensive, smart and use artificial intelligence to detect motion in the camera view. Built in night vision is also available as well as a built-in microphone. Some models have a controllable Pan and Tilt function.
Once any motion is detected by the camera, several things happen simultaneously: An email is sent from the camera to a predesignated email address which can be retrieved by cell phone. Attached to the email are images of the event. In addition, automatic recording of the image can be initiated.
If the thief steals the camera, it is already too late for the thief. The camera images and all observable activities have already been recorded off site.
As email is reviewed, law enforcement can be contacted for quick response. This is not just another security alarm–it is an observable “crime in progress” which will get a more rapid Police response. Images can even be uploaded automatically to the police as the crime occurs via a simple website accessable by them.
Another advantage is that these cameras are truly “plug and record”. No technical installation or network knowledge is required.
Simply mount with screws from the mounting hardware. The camera can be moved to any other location that has some type of AC power and telephone line or wirless network available nearby.
Visit www.Gotchacam.biz for details. Visit live surveillance cameras at www.HiDefcctv.com/ip/
These Gotcha! cameras can be viewed and controlled from over 30 models of smartphones.
All software is free. A 32 channel recording software is also free with purchase.
You can also observe LIVE Gotcha! cam images online on YOUR own website. We will provide you with the html code so you can have your own security camera website.
Technical support is FREE.
No obligations, or contracts are required.
website www.Gotchacam.biz
TEL: (209) 334-2599
5 WildCard~ // Nov 22, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Thanks~ I might get one to just spy..Really! .;)
6 MWells // Dec 6, 2009 at 12:52 pm
WildCArd- You mentioned an application that we do NOT endorse!
Background :
Our Gotcha! cameras make the camera owner very powerful on any network. You do not need to be a network engineer to configure your Gotcha! cameras.
Most consumers use high tech devices but many don’t understand how difficult it is to make their operation simple. These Gotcha! cameras were SPECIFICALLY designed to use the latest cctv technology and make it SIMPLE and foolproof to use. There is however an unfortunate side effect.
Network systems were designed with security in mind at every step. This security requirements make it extremely difficult for users to configure routers, cameras and PC’s as well as the software required. So who is the “boss”, the equipment or the user? We make the user, “the boss”.
The leading product that tries to compete with us, takes about 30-90 minute to set up, if they happen to be lucky. These cameras cost 2-3 times as much and have less functionality.
Our cameras can actually be on a LAN or the internet within literally seconds WITHOUT reading instructions or a manual or having any knowledge of networking.
The camera network design was from the point of view of and assumption that : “the person who owns the camera” is always a “white hat”.
If and only this this statement is true, our cameras are very easy to setup and operate. Mission accomplished! but what if the camera owner is not a “white hat”. We believe it is the personal responsibility of the owner of any device to use it honestly. Is it more important to help people protect themselves from criminals or to protect “everyone–including criminals” from violation of privacy.
I won’t suggest how these devices can be abused.
I can say, when studying the network that is used by the cameras—they are like the popular movie ET. ” They are ALWAYS trying to phone home”. That is, anything that software or a network tries to do (except one feature) will be thwarted BY THE CAMERA (because it is ALWAYS defined as “white hat” or a “good guy” by network protocol.
When the camera is on a network, anti-spy, software and hardware firewalls in a PC or any router on the LAN are automatically thwarted.
If a firewall closes a port that the camera is using, it does not matter, the camera will automatically open additional ports so that it can ALWAYS “phone home”…or send video to a predesignated location. The technical explanation is beyond this discussion, but the result is that you will not get shoulda coulda woulda reasons for the camera not doing what YOU want it to do. This camera makes YOU the boss on your local network. It does not allow you to do anything else.
So plug in the power, and the wireless is already ONLINE on public access routers, one 30 sec cable connection to talk with the router is all that is required to exchange passwords between secured routers WEP or WAP and the camera.
On wired systems, all you do is plug tha CAT5 cable into a router. Thats it! No software , no fooling around or reading 100 page manual.
In fact, if you visit www.Gotchacam.biz rthe instructions are in a flash movie that only takes a few seconds to show you what I just stated.
The Gotcha! cameras alos have their own NAS device, that is SELF-CONFIGURABLE, like the cameras. Yesterday, we discovered a new feature that was not designed into it—yet makes it extremely powerful!
We also have another network device that turns any existing security camera into a Gotcha! camera. That means specialty cameras disguised as sprinkler heads, clocks, books etc, can be turned into a smart Gotcha! camera. The Gotcha module is also compatible with professional grade PTZ speed domes and also has a separate audio in jack as well as support for Pelco -D and -P and security alarm inputs and outputs. It is all explained on the www.gotchacam.biz website.
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