Scrap Metal Thefts Trigger Increase in Alarms for Air Conditioners

An increase in theft of copper wire, metal and entire air conditioning units has given rise to the sell of air conditioning alarms in Manatee County.

The alarms are designed to prevent theft of wires, compressors and other parts. And after years of rising thefts, there are now more than 3,000 alarms attached to air conditioning units across the county. And more are sure to come.

While thefts, and therefore alarms are on the increase, the sheriff's office is investigating the thefts and keeping a close watch on area scrap metal yards and recycling centers to make sure they are following the policies for accepting metals, wires and other scrap. Those policies include surveillance video of anyone selling items, a photo identification and thumb prints of people who turn in objects to be scrapped.

And while deputies don't want to deter people from alarming their air conditioning units because, for the most part, the alarms serve to prevent theft. But at their worst, the alarms can pull deputies out to answer seemingly false alarms if something disturbs the units and the owner wants the alarm investigated.

After three false alarms the sheriff's office levies fines or fees, starting at $25, for the calls for service. The sheriff's office typically determines when an alarm has gone off without cause and at least one Bradenton businessman wants to do away with the fines. A local physician, Craig Trigueiro, who had copper wire stolen out of his unit twice and his compresor damaged from theft, added an alarm to his unit nearly two years ago. He wants the county to do away with the fines for calls because he says that it's dificult to say that someone wasn't tampering with the unit when the alarm sounds.

Trigueiro argues that most of the time someone has tampered with a unit and then the alarm scared them off. But deputies say there are plenty of times when  strong winds or a storm or an animal might set off the alarm and that the owner should investigate and turn off the alarm, rather than having a law enforcement official pulled off of duty.

Because the sheriff's office doesn't want to pull deputies off of patrols for every alarm it implements fees for false alarm calls that range from $25 and go up to $400 for chronic calls.

Since 2005 the sheriff's office has responded to 27 false alarms in 10 locations. Major Dennis Dunner would not say how many calls were to Trigueiro's office in the 4800 block of 26th Street West. He did say that the overall number of false alarms were low because most people who get a call that their alarm is sounding opt to handle it themselves rather than have deputies investigate.

Still Triguiero, who has his alarm system set at the lowest sensitivity level, was adamant that the county should do away with false alarm fines for people who were responsible in how they installed and set up the alarms.

County Commissioners, who implemented an ordinance adopting the fines, acknowledged that theft is a problem, but they were reluctant to do away with the fines or to change the ordinance to exempt certain items. Instead they suggested that Trigueiro put a fence around the air conditioning unit for his medical office or put up surveillance cameras so that he would have proof that someone had tampered with the unit. Trigueiro said he has flood lights aimed at the area where his air conditioning unit sits. He has also cut down four stands of trees blocking views of the unit, but still he said that hasn't stopped people from tampering with it.

"It's unfortunate but there is a large amount of people stealing ACs and copper," said Commissioner Joe McClash. "It's the worst I've ever seen."

Just this week the school district discovered that someone stripped the rooftop of Willis Elementary of all its copper wiring that was attached to the lightning rods. The theft costs the school district and all of its taxpayers and it may be difficult to solve because the school district doesn't know when the copper was stolen or even if it was stolen all at once or over several months.

McClash said he has lost 15 air conditioning units from some of his rental properties, but suggested that Trigueiro install surveillance cameras.

The thefts cost the victims thousands and at most net theives a few hundred dollars. Most of the time it's even less if they take parts for scrap, Dunner said.

While the county would not reconsider its fine for false alarms, both the sheriff's office and the commissioners said that they don't want to discourage people from putting the alarms on their units because the alarms seem to prevent at least some thefts.

Representatitives from the sheriff's office said that if Triguiero installed a fence around his air conditioner the office would reduce the amount he owes in fines for false alarms.