Mobile Surveillance Trailer Helps You Prevent Copper Theft

​Copper theft is a growing threat for water and waste facilities across the U.S. It's impact includes costly repairs, service disruptions, and safety hazards. BIGLUX explores the financial impact, real-world examples, and practical solutions to protect critical infrastructure from crime.

The Financial Toll on Water and Waste Facilities

Copper theft is more than just a minor nuisance; it's a multi-million dollar issue sweeping the Country. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), instances of copper theft grew by 57% in 2022, with the trend continuing into recent years. The cost of these thefts extends far beyond replacing the stolen metal, though. The true financial toll also includes:

Repair and Replacement Costs

The most obvious costs are those associated with repairing and replacing wiring or machinery that has been stolen. A single theft event can lead to thousands of dollars in damages, and the cost of replacing copper continues to spiral upwards.

Increased Insurance Premiums

Any instance of theft is likely to have a negative impact on insurance premiums, particularly if the theft was a result of limited security coverage or where there are repeated occurrences. These increased overheads and operating costs are often a hidden cost of crime and may have a negative impact on the consumer, too.

Operational Downtime

Any compromise of security at a critical infrastructure location can lead to operational downtime, taking days or even weeks to resume full service. The impact of downtime at water facilities severely impacts local communities and harms the reputation of any water district.

How Water Districts Can Prevent Copper Theft

Install Mobile Surveillance Cameras

Deploying highly visible crime deterrents such as mobile solar surveillance trailers backed by live monitoring will help prevent unauthorized access and improve response time to manage security threats.



BIGLUX's mobile surveillance tracker can provide 24-hour security to water districts across the United States, mitigating copper theft and other physical security challenges.

Secure Perimeter Areas

Perimeter security solutions can help harden your target against gateway crimes such as trespassing and vandalism, and more serious crimes such as copper theft. Use fencing, motion-sensing lights, and access control systems to make it harder for thieves to enter facilities.

Mark and Track Copper Wiring

When materials and equipment are stolen, the likelihood of ever seeing them again is less than 15%. High-value metals like copper will be sold via illicit trade and be impossible to identify unless... Engraving your facility's identification details onto copper components and the use of tracking technology can help to discourage resale and increase the chance of recovery.

Encourage Community Involvement

Disruption to water facilities can be devastating for local communities, so encourage outreach programs and educate local residents and workers on recognizing and reporting suspicious activity near water facilities.

Partner with Local Law Enforcement

Collaboration with local law enforcement and emergency responders to develop joint security strategies can be one of the most powerful ways of reducing criminal activity at your facilities.

Is your infrastructure protected against copper theft? Contact BIGLUX today to learn how our autonomous, proactive, and budget-efficient security systems can safeguard your critical infrastructure