Friday 11 November 2011
- Epidemic costing UK £770 million per annum -
The demand for valuable metals, particularly copper and lead, from China and the Far East has turned what was once a minor nuisance into a major problem for vacant property owners and managers, according to VPS, The Vacant Property Specialists.
The pillaging of metals from the built environment is one of the fastest growing crimes in the country and estimated to be reaching epidemic proportions, costing the UK £770 million a year.
Vacant properties are particularly at risk as criminals target them to steal an abundance of copper plumbing, electric cables, generators, boilers and lead roofing.
This is reflected in findings from independent research commissioned by VPS, which reveals over half of property managers in the UK are impacted by vacant property, with crime and vandalism, such as metal theft, topping the list of their concerns.
Nick Tubbs, UK managing director of VPS, said: “Metal theft is no longer an unexpected event, but rather an inevitability. It’s no surprise that this latest epidemic is a major concern for vacant property managers. Not only do any stolen metals have to be replaced, but catastrophic water damage and flooding is often caused during their removal, such as when copper pipes from the water or central heating systems are stolen. Property owners may find that the resulting damage is not covered by insurance unless they implement system drain downs once buildings become vacant.”
Tubbs continues, “Once these metals have been replaced there is a high risk of repeat offences, leading to increased insurance premiums. Insurers are even reviewing their policies of granting automatic full building cover. Many now only provide minimal cover known as FLEEA (fire, lightning, explosion, earthquake and aircraft) unless proper protection procedures are put in place, with some insurers even withdrawing coverage altogether.”
Undertaking a comprehensive risk assessment by a specialist firm will ensure that vacant properties are properly protected and risks are reduced.
Any risk assessment should take account of the layout of the property and its vulnerabilities, the nature and value of the building and its contents, and also the location of the property and the area’s crime profile. Potential risks from metal theft, along with fire hazards, damage to power/ water supplies, public liability, and unauthorised access, are all assessed.
Take the shine off metal theft with a range of surprisingly cost effective innovative solutions -1.jpeg)
that can be employed for security and surveillance to deter unwelcome visitors:
• Drain down services are a cost effective preventative measure, which include the drain down of all water systems, as well as the switching off of other utilities such as gas and electric services. This prevents catastrophic damage to vacant properties if metal pipes are stolen and can help ensure property owners meet the relevant insurance criteria. It should be the minimum protection that property owners and managers take to protect vacant property from the damage caused metal theft.
• Proprietary steel screens and doors can protect against metals from inside a building and are much more effective than plywood boarding.
• Erecting hoardings, temporary fencing, bollards and anti-climb paint will help protect unauthorised access from the perimeter of a property.
• Increasing costs of man guarding and growing thefts has seen as increase in the development of alternative solutions and growth of electronic security systems, which can be one twelfth of the cost of manned security.
• Electronic security, such as one or more VPS SmartAlarm, can be rapidly deployed to provide instant security. Sensors provide immediate detection and report on a range of incidents including intruders, flooding and fire. Entirely free-standing, they use wireless GSM mobile phone technology and a long life battery, so mains power or a phone line are not required. They can also include loudspeaker voice messages, a 120 decibel siren and CCTV video recording.
• Some properties may require additional protection using manned security guards or regular inspections. These can be combined with electronic security for longer term protection.
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