You may have seen a number of air-conditioning unit thefts which have recently been reported by businesses across Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
You may have seen a number of air-conditioning unit thefts which have recently been reported by businesses across Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. The unfortunate victims of this crime have found that the cables connected to the air conditioning units have been severed, allowing thieves to remove the unit from the external wall of their premises before spiriting it away in a van.
Of all the valuable items that could be stolen, you may ask why an air conditioning unit is a desirable item for a burglar? The answer is the scrap metal – copper, aluminium and other materials that are contained within the unit. Sometimes thieves are interested in the whole unit itself particularly the larger units installed for premises such as utility facilities, specialised warehousing or retail units.
Metal theft is a crime which is committed every day and continues to cause serious loss and disruption to business and property owners across East Anglia. It is expected to continue due to the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Abbey Security Services often hear from businesses regarding the theft of precious metals including suppliers of aluminium or other highly valuable metal products. Thieves take advantage where the opportunities are plentiful and security is low and, as they diversify and adopt more cunning tactics, many are now travelling several hours to commit crimes.
An increasing number of incidents are being reported, where thieves have driven from outside the county to Bury St Edmunds, Mildenhall, Newmarket and other locations across Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to steal goods. Often, they will drive to business premises in a van posing as a delivery driver and have gained access to warehouse areas and construction areas from where they have stolen valuable goods.
The so-called delivery drivers are sometimes wearing a uniform or hi-vis vest and with paperwork in their hand, they appear to be genuine. As a result, they are not being challenged by staff and get away with committing the crime.
A randomised mobile patrol security service is an effective way to combat these issues and is a cost-effective alternative to static and manned security solutions. Abbey Security’s trained security officers will patrol the site, by car or on foot at random times throughout the day, or in a pattern tailored to your business needs. For example, you may require patrolling during the evening and night-time hours when staffing levels are low or zero.
Our highly visible security vehicle acts as an effective deterrent to criminal behaviour and the random nature of our mobile guard’s patrols make planned burglaries or other unwanted criminal activity difficult to execute.
We operate a ‘challenge anyone’ policy, regardless of whether they are wearing a uniform and appear to be legitimately on your premises, or not.
We also offer a lockdown service, where our officers will ensure that premises are secure by checking all windows, doors and any potential entry points are closed or locked and alarms are activated. This provides our customers with peace of mind whilst they are not occupying the building.
Abbey Security Services are well connected across the business community and we strive to keep customers informed of local issues and security threats throughout the region so they can remain vigilant. For all your security needs, from mobile security patrol to CCTV monitoring services, we are here to help across all areas of Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Contact us for further information on 01284 768832.
Posted on October 17, 2023