How can I stop copper pipe thieves?

[pauldv]

Hi
I recently had 14 foot of copper pipe stolen it was 28mm gas supply after meter, running along car port wall and into my flat on second floor. It cost me £180 to get replaced they only took the pipe they could reach and the police say they will probably be back as they took a couple of neighbors too and you can see part of it from the street. The cheeky beggars stole it from under a security light and as a last resort I was thinking of wiring it to the live feed to the lamp so its live when the sensors triggered although there may be some legal issues here. Is there some sort of alarm thats triggered when the pipe is touched?

and ideas of a cheap way of securing would be great. I would probably have to get it boxed in eventually but can't afford it yet.

 

[Norcon]

Connect it up to 240 volts as you say.
That's what I would do.

 

[Stivino]

Can you not do it in galv?

 

[SpecialK]

Paint it with something sticky ;p

 

[bazdaman]

move from merseyside?

 

[bazdaman]

tracpipe or steel?

 

[Whitespirit66]

move from merseyside?

 

[pauldv]

I called at least 15 plumbers trying to get one over the weekend I managed to get one today and he said he can only do it copper. Its was too cold to wait until monday so I just had to get him.

I dont think sticky paint or vandal grease would put them off.

He should have used that tracpipe but its done now. unless some one wants to swap it.

If I did electrify it would the current pass through the joints and cause other problems or would it stop at the brass fittings and not make the meter live?

 

[pauldv]

move from merseyside?

Shame on you but I like it.

 

[kittedup]

Please tell me you are not seriously considering putting 230 volts onto a gas pipe?

Glad I live a long way away

See you on the news.

Ted

 

[bazdaman]

no one could be that thick kittedup

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Thats got to be a wind up....

 

[pauldv]

Please tell me you are not seriously considering putting 230 volts onto a gas pipe?

I was thinking more like a farmers fence type shocker.

I know it would be dangerous because of the spark but that would get them before they cut through.

 

[muggles]

If I did electrify it would the current pass through the joints and cause other problems or would it stop at the brass fittings and not make the meter live?

If you electrified it it would also make everything it's connected to live, such as the boiler casing. It could also potentially arc and cause an explosion.

Best idea is to box it in, a bit of timber isn't going to cost all that much and should be a sufficient deterrent if built sturdily enough

 

[xr4x4]

cant you just paint it black, or cover it with pipe lagging so the thieves dont know its copper...

maybe enough to put them off.