Energy & Utility Companies

Criminal gangs keep a constant eye on commodity prices and scrap metal values and copper is just one metal where there has been a substantial increase in the last few years.  Copper piping, wiring and cables have always been a prime target for thieves and with the uplift in their scrap value incidents of copper theft have risen dramatically. Energy and utility companies have been especially hard hit with the cost of replacing stolen cable now running at £millions per year. But whether the problem is theft on this grand scale, vandalism or sabotage, Tag Guard will have a highly cost-effective security solution for energy and utility companies.

Historic buildings

The rocketing price of lead means that thieves have been targeting churches up and down the country to steel lead from their roofs. It’s not just churches that are at risk; railway buildings, schools, stately homes and even residential properties are at risk.  Traditional security measures are not really suitable for this type of application because standard external detectors on roofed areas will false alarm in the presence of seagulls, pigeons and other wildlife and the cost of installing a conventional cable-linked alarm system, given the large roof areas that might have to be covered, can be prohibitively expensive.

Tag Guard has developed a bespoke solution with a wireless security system purpose-designed to combat this lead theft crime wave.  The system comprises a detection cable which is secured to leaded areas with a weather resistant, externally rated adhesive.  Each zone, typically between 50 and 100 metres in length, terminates in a small wireless transmitter that sends its signals to a base station installed inside the church or any other building to be protected.  Should any part of the cable be broken or tampered with, which would occur if a thief attempted to remove the lead, it would activate the ‘TagAlarm’ system inside the building.  Tag Guard’s own central monitoring station, which is manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, monitors all alarm activity within seconds.  There an operator can see from the computer screen the location of the building and even the exact area on the roof which is being attacked.

On receipt of the alarm the action usually taken by Tag Guard is to notify a private security firm to investigate immediately.  If a crime is verified the Police may be asked to respond and make the arrest, which has happened several times recently.

The system can only be activated when the detection cable is physically disturbed and therefore will not false alarm.