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Copper Problem Solved. Or is it?

Here in Columbus a new law has been enacted so anyone dropping off scrap metal must have ID checked, etc. The new regulations stem, in large part, from all of the break ins where thieves strip copper pipe from vacant homes and sell it to fund their crack habit.

No matter what you did, they got in. Lock it, board it, put a dog in it. They still got in and stole your pipes.

The cost to fix this problem ranged from a few hundred to a few thousand. Most people replaced the pipe with PVC.

In the last week, I have had 3 outdoor A/C systems stolen. What are they doing, stripping them for parts? Is the new scrap yard the nearest HVAC contractor?

Newsflash !! This is more expensive than the pipe. According to the HVAC contractor I have been using for years, the new A/C systems are not compatible with the old (more than 3 years) furnaces. Yes, there are repair parts available, but installing whole units isn't going to work right.

So out of the frying pan and into the fire. Cost of new AC + Furnace = $2500 +/-.

Great. Landlords and owners be advised this is starting to be a problem.

Anyone know where I can get a PVC AC system????

Richard F. Kruse is the President of Columbus, Ohio based Gryphon USA, Ltd. (www.gryphonusa.com). The Gryphon Organization includes Gryphon Asset Management providing receivership and consulting services in the distressed marketplace, United Country Ohio Realty & Auction Group (www.ucohiorealty.com & www.ucohioauctions.com) providing real estate brokerage and auction services throughout Ohio and OnlineAuctionUSA.com (www.onlineauctionusa.com) providing commercial asset liquidations from the Midwest to East Coast.

United Country Ohio Realty & Auction Career Opportunities Available. Call 614-885-0020 x 17

Posted by Rich Kruse on 08/03/2007 08:24 AM

Comments (7)

ac, reo, landlord, columbus oh

Originally posted at: Asset Management & Recovery: Copper Problem Solved. Or is it?

This post has been included in Ohio Information Franklin County, OH Information Columbus, OH Information

7 Comments on Copper Problem Solved. Or is it?

AUG

2007

There was an article about this in The Washington Post the other week -- amazing to think that thieves are actually going around stealing copper pipes -- also some manhole covers, etc. Absurd what some people will do for a buck!

I know what you are going through Rich. We have seen a rise in copper thieves in our area too. I don't know of any PVC systems for heating and A/C. It seems that one of the big manufacturers out there would have come up with something like already.

David Wakeman

Rich

They also stealing the ground wire off of telephone poles.

Check the ground wire at the exterior of your properties.

There was an article in our paper many months ago about meth addicts who broke into a power transfer station, turned off the power--so they thought--and tried to steel wire. The police showed up before they touched the live wires and fried themselves. Is it unchristian to say too bad?

Fran

It certainly makes one wonder how or why someone would put a chemical in their body they had to do such crazy things to support the habit. This drug is causing so many issues in our country - there has to be a better way to stop it....

Rich, I just found out this morning that some one stole the garage door on one of my vacant listings! Just took it down and took it away. In the middle of a residential neighborhood. You'd think the neigbors would have noticed. Another one that happens quite frequently is...pool pumps and heaters. I guess they just reinstall them some where else.