Home Prices Gutted When Burglars Nab Copper Plumbing

BOSTON, Feb. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With the price of copper skyrocketing, burglars now have ample reason to target vacant homes.  A rash of copper thieves are ripping out copper wiring and plumbing, taking an average of $4,314 worth of the valuable metal and significantly hurting the real estate value of the properties they rip-off.   Homeowners and sellers are fighting back, using wireless home security systems to catch copper thieves in the act.  

On January 30th at 12:08pm, a burglar set off a motion sensor in a vacant home in Medford, NY.  The crafty burglar then tried to disassemble the alarm system in an attempt to disable it.  Believing the alarm to be defeated, he remained on the property.  What this brash burglar didn't know was that the system he was trying to disable was a SimpliSafe Home Security System.  

SimpliSafe's cellular technology had already alerted the police to the burglary in progress. Once the intruder heard the alarm, it was already too late.

According to the Suffolk Police Spokesperson, "The police responded to a residential alarm.  At 12:14 am they found the suspect in the basement trying to cut out copper piping.  He was arrested and charged with burglary in the third degree."

Unlike the out-dated security systems sold by most security companies, SimpliSafe's wireless security systems come with a built-in micro cell phone.  The systems send a signal to SimpliSafe's 24-hour monitoring center, before even sounding an alarm.

Mr. Singh, the owner of the property, is a developer and has 15 of his properties protected with SimpliSafe's wireless home security systems.

"I buy homes, fix them up, and sell them.  I got SimpliSafe because we had copper stolen out of a few of our houses, and we needed something to protect the other houses.  They take the copper from the plumbing and sometimes the boiler.  When you get hit, you get hit for thousands.  I'm very happy with SimpliSafe," says Mr. Singh.

A University of Indianapolis study found that on average the value of stolen metal was $4,314.  Copper theft is such big business that the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that metal theft costs U.S. businesses around $1 billion a year.  

In addition to replacing the expensive plumping and wiring, owners of vacant properties must pay for repair costs to torn walls if they hope to retain the sale value of their homes–values that have been buffeted by the housing crisis.  Houses left unrepaired face unfavorable sale conditions, as banks are unable to grant conventional mortgage loans for such properties.  

To protect their property investments, developers like Mr. Singh, have been flocking to wireless alarm solutions like SimpliSafe.  

Realtor Magazine recently named SimpliSafe's wireless security system a "Cool Tool" for protecting vacant properties.   The company sells its wireless alarms online and does not require owners to sign a 3 year contract.  SimpliSafe's alarm monitoring is offered on a pay-as-you go basis for just $14.99 per month, which is half the cost of the competition.  The best part for real estate professionals is that the systems are portable and extremely easy to install.  Once the property has been sold, the owner can take the system to the next investment home.

About SimpliSafe Inc.

SimpliSafe Inc. is a leading provider of wireless home security systems.  Their alarm systems are packed with cutting-edge technology, smart software, and are defyingly easy to use.  

The security industry has traditionally thrived on selling outdated technology at highway-robbery prices.  For smart consumers, SimpliSafe is a refreshing alternative. 

The company offers alarm monitoring on a pay-as-you-go basis without the long-term contracts (and fine print) the titans of the industry require. SimpliSafe security systems come equipped with micro cell phones that instantly notify their monitoring center of an emergency.  SimpliSafe's state-of-the-art security systems start at $199.  Alarm Monitoring is completely optional and is offered at $14.99/month.   For more information visit http://SimpliSafe.com

SOURCE SimpliSafe Inc.