Catalytic converter thefts aren’t the only problem affecting parking garages, lots, auto dealerships and even residential areas. Thieves have found a new target for making money- and it’s found in something aside from converters.
No longer is it just the construction sites, scrap yards, and air conditioning units in buildings that have to worry about metals theft. If your business has a parking lot or garage filled with electric vehicles and EV charging stations, then they may be at risk for precious metals theft. Because quick charge stations are high wattage devices they use large amounts of copper, making them prime targets for theft.
Every year, copper thefts account for more than $1 billion is losses according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Copper prices soared during the early days of the pandemic, leaving many empty buildings sitting ducks. As of this writing, copper fetches $3.85 per pound, making it still a high-value target for thieves. This is a serious problem plaguing many industries.
The problem has become so widespread that all 50 states have laws to help decrease metals theft. One of the preventative measures is for scrap yards to document all transactions and confirm the sellers’ identities on any precious metals transaction made.
Electric Vehicle Charger Theft in the News
In Los Angeles, a FOX11 story revealed on site security cameras caught bold thieves cutting wires directly from an EV charging station. The article says 38 out of the available 40 stations were stolen and two were damaged.
The cost of the damages exceeded $18,000. Unfortunately, the victim is a nonprofit. This happened even though its parking lot is well-lit and gated. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the theft of EV chargers is trending.
Even EV giant Tesla had its electric vehicle chargers stolen. Eight of these EV charging stations opened in Oakhurst, California. Tesla owners went to see the new station. Instead, they got a surprise as all the stalls were missing charging cables. It turned out they were cut off- as a photo in this electrek article shows.
The same story refers to an EV charging station in Utah that had to be shut down, as it had been damaged. “If this continues to be an issue, investing in some surveillance equipment is also not going to be a luxury,” writes Fred Lambert.
Nevada isn’t very lucky where electric vehicle chargers are concerned. Motherboard Tech by Vice references a report in which crooks have robbed three charging stations in Reno. While the cables are thick, they can be cut with the right tools.
In some of the stories, criminals took the cable while an electric vehicle was using the charging station. In a few cases, they stripped the metal out of the cable.
Tips for Electric Vehicle Owners
If you manage a multifamily residential building, office, or retail center, it would be worth taking the time to educate your business tenants and customers on how to protect their electric vehicles from metals theft.
This is a challenging issue for residents of multifamily residential communities. One of the most common tips is to charge the electric vehicle at home. This doesn’t work as a solution when your home charging station is accessible to theft. Aside from that, here are the tips experts provide to prevent electric vehicle charging cable and metals theft.
- Lock the plug while charging in public places. Tesla, for example, has updated its software to ensure the plug can’t work with any other electric vehicle. Not even if it’s a Tesla.
- Use a padlock. Sometimes the best solutions are the simplest ones. EV owners can lock their cable to a cable tether installed under the car, aluminum wheel, or a nearby fence. Some electric vehicles have a loop for securing the lock during charging.
- Keep the charger in a safe place. Thieves will often look in the trunk, and can damage the trunk to break in. Experts recommend keeping the cable at home or at the office. Another option is to use a traveling lockbox that can be tethered to the trunk. It will need two locks, one for the lock box and the other for the tether. The most important tip is to keep the charger out of sight. Crooks can look inside the vehicle and attempt a smash-and-grab if they see something worth stealing.
- Add a dashcam with a motion sensor. The sight of video cameras can deter some intruders. A better option is to opt for a camera with motion sensors. One tip from the experts is to shop for the right dashcam as they may have exposed wires. A big benefit of dashcams is that the owner will have a recording of what happened. This will give them the proof they need for insurance and the police.
Another recommendation is to install video surveillance cameras at home. Businesses and multifamily residential communities can also benefit from using commercial-grade remote video surveillance.
How Video Surveillance Can Prevent Electric Vehicle Charger Theft
Video surveillance with remote monitoring comes built-in with multiple layers of security. The more layers of security you deploy, the more effort it will take for criminals to achieve their goals. Sometimes, they will leave to find an easier target.
Here are the other benefits of video surveillance that will help protect electric vehicles, their charging cables, and the EV charging stations.
Helps to Deter Crime
What makes remote video surveillance more effective than security guards and passive traditional alarms is that it captures everything that happens. This proactive security technology uses a combination of video analytics and human intelligence to help stop crime before it happens.
It’s proactive because when a trespasser approaches the property, the video analytics and trained monitoring operators work together to spot suspicious activities early. As soon as there’s an alert, the monitoring operator can issue a warning to the suspect over the speaker.
As thieves become more brazen, they may not be deterred. So, the monitoring operator contacts the police dispatch. As officers make their way to the property, the security operator monitors the intruder until the police arrive.
Helps Prevent Resident and Employee Theft
Commercial buildings, multifamily residential communities, and shopping and retail centers all deal with different security challenges. Nonetheless, they have one thing in common: internal threats and employee theft. A study from Hiscox referenced in a CNBC news story reports U.S. businesses to lose an average of $1.13 million from internal theft.
Employee theft occurs because workers are knowledgeable about the security system. They are often aware of its weak points and even where everything is located. A desperate or disgruntled employee then becomes a liability.
Video cameras with remote monitoring can close this gap. Trained monitoring operators working with cutting-edge video analytics watch the cameras in a facility in another city or state. The advantage is they won’t become an internal threat.
Helps Lower Liability
Even if you have liability insurance, there are other ways to help reduce your risks. Anything can happen. Perhaps, the insurance company does not approve the claim. Or if they do approve it, they may not make the payment quickly enough to get the repairs done or payout as much as you hoped.
Each day the business waits for the payment is another day that hurts the business as it needs the money for repairs or a replacement. If the damage is visible to the public, it could affect their feelings about the business. They may not feel safe.
Property managers are responsible for creating a safe environment for everyone including residents, visitors, and employees. Accidents or injuries that occur on a property can become a liability. Believe it or not, if a crook gets hurt while stealing an electric vehicle cable, they could potentially sue the business and win the claim.
Video surveillance can decrease liability by recording all activity and having analytics and human intelligence monitoring the property. Liability lawsuits are hard to win, but not when there are recordings available.
Finding the Right Video Surveillance to Help Stop EV Charger Thefts
Video surveillance technology constantly changes as it becomes more affordable, more effective, and more efficient. Experienced video surveillance companies like ECAM know how to maximize security to meet your budget and requirements. Stealth, as a security technology company, has relationships with law enforcement across North America. This ensures they’ll be more likely to respond quickly when they get a call from Stealth. They know it’s not a false alarm.
The good news is that the right video surveillance service can deliver a fast return on investment. Many ECAM clients have seen an ROI within months. You won’t have to pass on the cost of the technology to customers.
Not all remote video surveillance systems can track and identify suspects or have monitoring operators issue a verbal warning to intruders over the audio speakers. That’s why it’s important to ask about these capabilities. Here’s a checklist of questions to ask to help you choose the right video surveillance service.
There are no one-size-fits-all solutions for remote video surveillance. Every industry has different requirements. Even two multifamily residential buildings may not have the same requirements or setup. Many factors come to play- the location, property size, and layout. In searching for a security company, identify those with experience in your industry and location.
It’s easy to adapt and scale up or down as needed. Check out this case study to learn how video surveillance lowers crime and saves money. You can also learn more about EV charging technology from Xeal, a leading providing of electric vehicle charging stations for the multifamily industry.
To get a customized security solution that fits your requirements and budget, contact us. Texas Private Security License Number: B14187.
