$300 stolen from under an Aussie home—is your home safe?
- Replies 8
In a startling incident that has left a local tradesman and a community reeling, a seemingly mundane call to a house with no water turned into a discovery of brazen theft.
Mick, a plumber and bathroom specialist, was confronted with a bizarre situation when he arrived at a property that had been sitting empty for a few weeks, awaiting new tenants.
The new residents had reported the sound of water gushing somewhere beneath the house, a puzzling scenario given that there was no running water inside.
Upon investigation, Mick's disbelief was palpable as he found water ‘shooting straight up’ from the ground.
The source? A copper pipe, meant to supply the entire house with water, had been violently severed from its place.
‘This place has been vacant for a couple of weeks [and] someone's come in and pinched the copper. Look at that, it's snapped off,’ Mick recounted, expressing his shock at the situation. ‘I've never seen this happen before here.’
The theft was not limited to a single piece of piping. In a disheartening revelation, Mick discovered that all the copper piping under the house had been ripped out.
The cost of the damage and the labour to repair it was significant, with his fellow tradesmen spending an entire day replacing the stolen pipes—a ‘nightmare’ task, as Mick put it.
Understandably upset by the theft, the homeowners are set to report the incident to the police. But the financial implications are also noteworthy.
Mick estimated that the scrap copper from the pipes could fetch around $7 to $8 per kilogram. In contrast, the cost to replace a new six-meter long three-quarter copper pipe is about $80.
He estimated that the stolen copper might be worth around $300.
The incident has struck a chord with many, as footage of the missing copper shared online garnered hundreds of thousands of views.
Source: TikTok / @mickey_mouse_bathrooms
Surprisingly, numerous viewers shared that they had experienced similar thefts or knew someone who had.
One viewer commented, ‘I work in insurance & this happens so often.’ Another added, ‘Someone’s stripped the copper, [its] like that everywhere in Sydney.’
One commenter even highlighted the lucrative nature of such thefts, noting that ‘Copper and brass add up real quick. It was a… side hustle when I was on site.’
This incident is a stark reminder to homeowners and tradespeople alike about the importance of securing properties, especially when left unoccupied.
It also raises questions about the market for stolen metals and the need for vigilance in our communities.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the only crime on the rise. One of our previous articles discusses the disturbing rise in break-ins across Australia.
You might want to consider upgrading your home security system. Check out our article on video security doorbells. They could go a long way in making you feel safer.
Have you ever encountered such thefts in your area? What measures do you take to protect your property and valuables? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below.
Mick, a plumber and bathroom specialist, was confronted with a bizarre situation when he arrived at a property that had been sitting empty for a few weeks, awaiting new tenants.
The new residents had reported the sound of water gushing somewhere beneath the house, a puzzling scenario given that there was no running water inside.
Upon investigation, Mick's disbelief was palpable as he found water ‘shooting straight up’ from the ground.
The source? A copper pipe, meant to supply the entire house with water, had been violently severed from its place.
In certain areas in Australia, copper theft has increased five-fold in the last year. Image Source: TikTok / @mickey_mouse_bathrooms
‘This place has been vacant for a couple of weeks [and] someone's come in and pinched the copper. Look at that, it's snapped off,’ Mick recounted, expressing his shock at the situation. ‘I've never seen this happen before here.’
The theft was not limited to a single piece of piping. In a disheartening revelation, Mick discovered that all the copper piping under the house had been ripped out.
The cost of the damage and the labour to repair it was significant, with his fellow tradesmen spending an entire day replacing the stolen pipes—a ‘nightmare’ task, as Mick put it.
Understandably upset by the theft, the homeowners are set to report the incident to the police. But the financial implications are also noteworthy.
Mick estimated that the scrap copper from the pipes could fetch around $7 to $8 per kilogram. In contrast, the cost to replace a new six-meter long three-quarter copper pipe is about $80.
He estimated that the stolen copper might be worth around $300.
The incident has struck a chord with many, as footage of the missing copper shared online garnered hundreds of thousands of views.
Source: TikTok / @mickey_mouse_bathrooms
Surprisingly, numerous viewers shared that they had experienced similar thefts or knew someone who had.
One viewer commented, ‘I work in insurance & this happens so often.’ Another added, ‘Someone’s stripped the copper, [its] like that everywhere in Sydney.’
One commenter even highlighted the lucrative nature of such thefts, noting that ‘Copper and brass add up real quick. It was a… side hustle when I was on site.’
It also raises questions about the market for stolen metals and the need for vigilance in our communities.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the only crime on the rise. One of our previous articles discusses the disturbing rise in break-ins across Australia.
You might want to consider upgrading your home security system. Check out our article on video security doorbells. They could go a long way in making you feel safer.
Have you ever encountered such thefts in your area? What measures do you take to protect your property and valuables? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below.
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. Plain discusting!
