Haddonfield Releases Tips to Prevent Copper-Downspout Thefts

The borough released a list of tips on Friday to help residents avoid the theft of copper downspouts.

There have been more than a dozen such thefts in the last four months and two dozen since last December.

The tips, emailed by the borough, include:

• Trim or remove shrubbery or other landscaping that allows criminals to hide from view on your property.  If you are planting shrubbery near the home use plants that have thorns and can restrict access to vulnerable areas.

• Ensure regular checks are made of the roof.  Often, until it rains you will never know the gutter is missing.
• Maintain well-lit areas, use lights with motion detectors, secure area by fencing when possible.  Although we have not had many reports of issues with air conditioning units, cages around the outside unit is recommended and locks on outside electrical panels.
• Secure or reinforce all gutters and downspouts to the building so they can not be easily removed.
• Use a perimeter security system with motion detectors. 
• Paint copper black making it more difficult to distinguish the copper from a distance.

It was not immediately clear if some of these suggestions, such as "cages" around outside air conditioning and electrical units would past the muster of the borough's historic commission, which regulates the facade of homes in the borough's historic district. Many of the copper downspouts are on homes in the historic district.

The borough email also said:

It is no secret that Haddonfield has been targeted by numerous thefts of copper gutters. On a National, State and County level we are experiencing an alarming amount of copper thefts. Copper is the new gold. In the past the intrinsic value of copper didn’t merit the labor required to steal it for scrap. Not any more. Older buildings, as we have in Haddonfield are especially vulnerable, as they are a virtual treasure chest of copper pipes, wires, gutters and flashing.
 
Towns that have a high number of vacant homes are experiencing burglaries with the copper pipes being removed. Commercial businesses are having refrigeration and air conditioning units stolen and stripped for copper. In upscale neighborhoods, like Haddonfield, copper gutters are being torn from the homes.
 
Unlike burglaries, that involve a thief stealing valuables contained in a building, copper crooks steal from the building without entering the residence. Copper gutter thefts are quick and leave little evidence for the police to process.  Property owners can take some preventive actions to help guard against the copper thefts.

Protection from this type of theft relies on vigilance. Relaying license plates and descriptions of suspicious activity to police have been the biggest deterrent to this type of crime and are the first steps in bringing metal thieves to justice. If you observe any type of suspicious activity do not hesitate in contacting the Haddonfield Police at 429-3000, if you observe a crime in progress dial 911.