With Rising Copper Prices, Looters Intensify Their Attacks on Vital Societal Infrastructures

WHO:

Mark Jarman, president

Inovonics

(www.inovonics.com)

Inovonics is a leader in high-performance wireless sensor networks for commercial and life safety applications.

David Meurer, vice president

Albuquerque Armed Response Team

(www.armedresponseteam.com)

The Armed Response Team (ART) was founded in 2004 by a group of Albuquerque Police Department officers to respond to a growing problem: the inability of city police departments to promptly respond to burglar alarms. Today ART has grown to be a leading security company in the Albuquerque area market.

WHAT:

With the ongoing recession continuing to hit specific parts of the U.S., copper wire theft has become a way for individuals to make a living. Copper is the essential ingredient in power lines, heating and cooling pipes, and grounding wires—the basic components of the modern world. When this vital element is ripped from buildings, police stations, telecommunications providers – our world goes dark. The results can be dramatic – with cell phone calls dropped, retail outlets being put out of business for days or weeks, police officers unable to respond to crime scenes and city budgets constantly hampered by having to replace the essential metal. A 2008 FBI report, Copper Thefts Threaten U.S. Critical Infrastructure, warned that the persistent, widespread theft, "presents a risk to both public safety and national security." With demand remaining consistent in the U.S. and China, this issue does not appear to be going away anytime soon.

HOW:

Today's security needs are different than they were a decade ago. Besides offering flexibility, ease of installation and cost-effectiveness, commercial-grade wireless products provide the best solution to ensure facilities are safe and secure from copper wire theft. Without disrupting a building's existing infrastructure, organizations can rely on wireless solutions to ward off would-be copper thefts, regardless of industry. Wireless sensor networks in commercial settings provide tangible ROI for property owners against copper theft because they are not susceptible to easy theft or removal. Businesses and the communities they serve can rest assured of wireless technology's proven, reliable performance for their building or place of business.

CONTACT:

Christie Denniston

Catapult PR-IR

Office: 303-581-7760, 13

Mobile: 303-827-5164

[email protected]