Gymnast Climbs Building to Steal Copper

Seriously, a gymnast used his gymnastic skills to scale buildings and steal copper from air-conditioning units. Think about it... tumbling, flipping, and prancing around probably doesn’t pay to well, so becoming a copper thief makes total sense.

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/blotter/entries/2009/07/29/man_scaled_buildings_to_steal.html

Video: Stolen Telehandler Used to Steal ATM

Apparently professional thieves in the Atlanta area have been using stolen trucks and heavy equipment to steal ATM machines. According to OnlineAthens.com, local police claim, “The heists appear to be the work of a group of professional thieves who target banks near construction sites, where they steal forklifts and use them to rip the money machines from the ground and hoist them onto the beds of stolen pickup trucks.” There have been many other similar burglaries since December 2007 in the area.

http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/072509/new_470686900.shtml

You would think an ATM machine would put up more of a fight. I know telehandlers are powerful, but they plucked that ATM up like it was nothing.

Miami Regional Theft Summit

I have never attended a National Equipment Register event or summit, but they are hosting one in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale region and I assumed some of you may be interested in attending this event. It is free for equipment owners, law enforcement and insurance professionals. The details of the event can be found at the following link.

http://events.linkedin.com/Ner-Regional-Theft-Summit-Miami/pub/90330

If you go, let us know what you thought of the event.

Tool Thief Escapes while Officer orders McD’s

I would actually say that Richard Zukoski of Port Richey, FL is rather sharp on his feet. Then again he was dumb enough to leave the tools which he stole from his neighbor’s truck on his front porch.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/article1020150.ece

Construction Supply Co. Manages Theft Ring

Denton, TX police began an investigation in May when 2 large trucks filled with 1,200 bundles of shingles were found in a 64 year-old man’s construction materials business. According to DentonRC.com, “Denton police officers searched Jose Coria’s home and three businesses in Dallas after he was arrested about 11 a.m. Sunday, seizing $362,000 in cash scattered throughout his home, hidden in shirt pockets and in bathroom cabinets”

http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/localnews/stories/DRC_Theft_Ring_0720.59b7ff87.html

So basically, Jose Coria of Denton, TX was coordinating a construction site theft ring which then sold the stolen materials through his construction materials business. That takes some serious balls. He was probably stealing from the same customers he sold to.

Man Arrested for Stealing over $1-million in Construction Equipment

Another big construction site burglar has been caught. According to the Richmond Times Dispatch, Rashad Muhammad, 23, of the 5700 block of Tivoli Circle in Henrico County was arrested for stealing construction equipment valued at $1-million.

http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/crime/article/THEFTGAT17_20090717-085802/280559/

That is an enormous amount of equipment, there’s no way he was working alone. It would take a lifetime to steal $1-million worth of power-tools and the odds of getting caught would be very high, considering the local pawn shop would eventually catch on to his endless supply of tools. Therefore, he was more than likely stealing heavy equipment which is usually done in teams. And of course, it begs the question, who was purchasing $1-million worth of equipment from him? And will the buyers be prosecuted as well?

Habitat for Humanity Suffers from Many Thefts

I scan news sources on a daily basis looking for construction related thefts and security news. One recurring story I come across routinely involves Habitat for Humanity construction sites being burglarized and vandalized. Here are 3 different stories from Detroit, Buffalo, and Springfield Mass all within 2 weeks of each other.

Thieves steal plumbing equipment, electrical fixtures from Habitat for Humanity house under construction in Springfield
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/07/thieves_steal_plumbing_equipme.html

Tools Stolen From Habitat for Humanity
http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=68240&provider=gnews

Assault leads Habitat to change worker policies
http://www.detnews.com/article/20090706/METRO01/907060321/1409/METRO/Assault-leads-Habitat-to-change-worker-policies

Why does Habitat suffer from so many thefts? Obviously they can’t afford to have round-the-clock security, but nearly all single family home construction projects operate with minimal security and it seems as if Habitat experiences a high level of thefts. Do thieves know Habitat jobsites have poor security and are easy targets? Or is it possible that local news sources focus on these stories because a nationwide organization of volunteers is being targeted, which makes the problem seem worse than it is? Either way, it seems Habitat for Humanity needs to work on their theft prevention policies.