stolen pipes!! help!

ginoT · 17 Jul 2007

I'm getting a full central heating system set up and my plumber has fixed in some copper pipes on the outside of the house (for both gas and water I think).

Someone is ripping these off the wall at night (despite being fixed with plastic holders). This has happened twice now. I'm getting worried because

1 - this is expensive for me (more time spent for the plumber + materials)

2 - potentially dangerous if they rip it off when the gas is all connected.

I was thinking about painting them with something to make the pipes difficult to resell.

Any advice?

thanks

Fluffster · 17 Jul 2007

Get him to use brass or galvanised fixings which are more secure.
Pete

ChrisR · 17 Jul 2007

Hope he isn't putting any WATER in them - it could freeze.

If the pipe's THAT exposed perhaps you should consider using steel pipe. A tenner a metre or somesuch but it isn't worth stealing and is harder to vandalise.

bobthebender · 17 Jul 2007

What a coincidence

I have just weighed in my scrap this morning

8kg of mixed copper & brass £16
45kg of cylinders £81
i thank you and your plumber

ginoT · 17 Jul 2007

will try to upgrade the fixings myself. make sure they'll never come off type of thing.

am a bit p*ssed off that the plumber just redid it with the same weak fixings when he knew someone had already stolen it once already.. arghh!!

ollski · 17 Jul 2007

ginoT said:
am a bit p*ssed off that the plumber just redid it with the same weak fixings when he knew someone had already stolen it once already.. arghh!!

It's not really the sort of thing you allow for on a job tbh

Bahco · 17 Jul 2007

Why not have the pipe runs inside then

x-man · 17 Jul 2007

Here we go again, blame the poor old plumber

htgeng · 17 Jul 2007

hmm, PC Plod might be interested. Can you hook up a hidden camera and capture them doing it? Otherwise wire up on of those electric fence units to the pipe so they get a nasty surprise.

JohnD · 17 Jul 2007

I like the idea of steel pipe, not worth stealing and can be cramped very strongly.

No doubt it's one of your neighbours, he might be back tomorrow, or next week, or next year, whenever he's out of jail and out of crack.

I also like the idea of connecting the pipes to the water main so he gets a good soaking.

You could also apply some anti-climb (sticky) paint, though you aren't meant to use this at a height where the public can brush against it and stain their clothes.

material.buyer · 17 Jul 2007

htgeng said:
hmm, PC Plod might be interested. Can you hook up a hidden camera and capture them doing it? Otherwise wire up on of those electric fence units to the pipe so they get a nasty surprise.

My thoughts exactly

gasandoilman · 17 Jul 2007

Why not run the pipe inside?

fumb · 17 Jul 2007

Are you sure you're getting new pipes each time?
Well, you know what these plumbers are like

Seriously though munsen rings and a bit of loctite should prevent them from being easily removed

doitall · 17 Jul 2007

Put a dummy pipe in and connect it to the mains.

Don't forget the camera for the "***** Dance" would be worth a fortune on you've been fraimed.

ginoT · 18 Jul 2007

htgeng said:
...wire up on of those electric fence units to the pipe so they get a nasty surprise.

where do I get one of those? is it legal?

I like the idea of causing them some pain! yeah!

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stolen pipes!! help!

x-man

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