Perimeter Intrusion Detection System Helps Foil Copper Theft

  • Jul 21, 2008

An attempt to steal valuable copper tubing from a Los Angeles-area oil refinery was thwarted when the robbers set off an alarm on a FiberPatrol perimeter intrusion detection system recently installed by Optellios Inc., in partnership with Security Services & Technologies (SST).

If successful, the robbery would have caused substantial material losses and compromised the plant’s overall security.

Put into operation just over a month earlier, the FiberPatrol security system demonstrated its detection capabilities by alerting security personnel to a theft attempt in progress. Using fiber-optic sensing technology, the system was able to pinpoint the exact location of the perimeter breach.

The facility’s video surveillance, installed and integrated by SST, provided a video verification of the threat. The CCTV system included Optellios video transmission equipment as well as the company’s command and control software, which automatically triggered security cameras to zero in on the intruders.

“We are pleased that our solution delivered exactly what we promised, and did so within weeks of being installed,” said Jay Patel, CEO of Optellios. “Our record of copper theft prevention will lead to new business opportunities with this and other security-conscious customers."

The latest incident was just one of several cases of FiberPatrol security systems detecting copper thieves and preventing property loss in recent months.

“Optellios offers unsurpassed capabilities and value proposition for commercial perimeter security. We see a lot of potential in using FiberPatrol sensors to combat copper theft,” said Ryan Rieger, an SST account manager.

With copper prices reaching all time highs in commodity markets worldwide, copper theft has risen alarmingly across the country. Once a problem mainly for electrical utilities, it is spreading rapidly to other business sectors handling copper stock, including chemical and petrochemical plants.

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