Updated
Updated · MyNewsLA.com · Jul 19
Pasadena Urges Rooftop AC Safeguards After Copper Thefts Cost Businesses Thousands
Updated
Updated · MyNewsLA.com · Jul 19

Pasadena Urges Rooftop AC Safeguards After Copper Thefts Cost Businesses Thousands

3 articles · Updated · MyNewsLA.com · Jul 19

Summary

  • Pasadena officials on Sunday told businesses to tighten rooftop security after copper wire thefts from air-conditioning units caused thousands of dollars in losses within the past week.
  • Sweet Red Peach at 319 S. Arroyo Parkway and Petsadena Animal Hospital at 959 S. Raymond Ave. were the latest victims; both stayed open but paid for portable cooling and other stopgap measures.
  • City spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said rooftop HVAC units are easy targets because they sit out of sight on flat, easily scalable commercial buildings, especially during several days of unseasonably high heat.
  • Officials urged owners to restrict roof access, lock away ladders, secure equipment with tamper-resistant steel cages, install motion-activated cameras and report tips to Pasadena police at 626-744-4241.

Insights

As copper prices surge, are steel cages and cameras enough to stop determined thieves from targeting businesses?
Beyond policing, what systemic changes can break the billion-dollar industry of copper theft plaguing American businesses?