Solar panels are new hot property for thieves

by amyjudd | September 27, 2008 at 03:06 pm

1148 views | 27 Recommendations | 26 comments

Solar panels are now being targeted by thieves in California - many are calling it the crime of the future.

Sunny California has a lot of homes with solar panels, and they are expensive - therefore are a new commodity for theives.

In May Hoffman lost 16 solar panels from her roof in three separate burglaries, one while she slept below. Happily for Hoffman her insurers have agreed to pay the $95,000 (£48,000) cost of replacing the panels. But as energy prices soar, and solar power takes off - at least in California - so opportunistic thieves have turned to the lucrative, and complicated, business of dismantling solar panels.

"I wouldn't say it's pervasive, but it's going on," California Solar Energy Industries Association executive director Sue Kateley told the Valley Times.

California is the leader for solar installations, with 33,000 across the state. Unsurprisingly, it is also the market leader for thefts of solar installations, although figures are hard to come by.

"The solar panel thing is pretty new," said Contra Costa county sheriff's office spokesman Jimmy Lee. "We're seeing an increasing number of cases."

One night in late August, 26 solar panels with a value of $20,000 were stolen from California's first certified organic farm, Star Route Farms in Bolinas, 20 miles up the coast from San Francisco.

"It's probably easier to steal a $20,000 car," Rob Erlichman, president of Sunlight Electric, which sold the panels to the farm in 2006, told the Point Reyes Light. "To steal that many panels you need a truck and you need guys."

Solar panels need to come with fastenings so that they cannot be lifted so easily.
However, if the theives want them bad enough, they will be able to get their hands on them.
Here is a forum on how much sloar panels can cost.

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nigelburmester@gmail.com

at 16:36 on September 27th, 2008

Taken at the Lake View Terrace Public Library in Southern California.

nigelburmester@gmail.com has contributed a photo to this story.

Paschen

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 18:56 on September 27th, 2008

amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff.

That is not good. Somewhat counter productive. Hum shows the People can not afford to change and yet want to change. why, a black market is forming and why we need Government programs to help every one change.

I forgot the government still believes in Oil and that the People want oil. Like they believe in Wall Street.

exotickirk

at 19:58 on September 27th, 2008

It’s not just that the people and government want to use oil and gas, the infrastructure is already in place. To divert the public from using oil and gas to using green energy resources the government and the public would have to have direct involvement in it financially and management expects. Government, private and contractors have spent billions of dollars on the current infrastructure that is deeply ingrained into our current society. To change or invent the technology to convert from oil and gas to solar/wind/hydro(questionable renewability) /geothermal is going to take time and trillions of dollars. The change from fossil fuels to renewable is going to take a long time but this doesn’t mean nothing is being done now.

Governments are getting involved and encouraging the use of solar panels via tax credits and rebates. Electric companies are also buying back the surplus of electricity. (source: http://www.watthackers.com/wp/understanding-the-true-cost-of-installing-solar-panels-in-2008/)

More things can be done but this is one hell of an incentive for (relatively) new technology and because of government involvement we are on our way to a greener world. Mass public usage and acceptances is a necessity or we will see these benefits disappear.

Karen Hatter

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 19:01 on September 27th, 2008

"Psssst! Check it out! Check it out! I got a real hot deal for you right here!"

I can just see these being sold out of the back of a truck!

Paschen

at 19:47 on September 27th, 2008

Not the back of the truck, more like car parts in garages. Some garages specialize in used parts and some are from stolen cars, that have been dismantled rather professionally and sold below cost to used part dealers. The system is well organized and well managed. The same exist with all thing in high demand and that are expensive yet needed. Energy in one of those and with high Oil prises it is coming now, like steel has gained such a demand and value now, that people robe it from High ways and sell it as scrap steel.

toastfloats

at 19:05 on September 27th, 2008

Hard to grab panels off the back of a cruising boat traveling 60 miles off shore. However, these are probably the most poorly guarded. Marinas up and down the California coast host boats with panels attached to the outside with little more than zip ties and line.

toastfloats has contributed a photo to this story.

amyjudd

at 19:56 on September 27th, 2008

Interesting, I didn't know that - thanks.

exotickirk

at 19:32 on September 27th, 2008

I asked a few of my Korean colleges that I work with but there have been no reports of solar panel theft. Unfortunately reporting this is going to do two things. It reveals a new problem that needs to be address and hopefully reporting on such things contractors, manufactures or third parties can install security measure to prevent theft. On the other hand, it will make the idea of stealing solar panels main stream and I will not be surprised if we see an “outbreak” of panel theft.

Passive security may deter by using cameras or alarms (have it tied into the house security??). Another option is to anchor the panel down to a degree that if it is removed the panel is rendered useless. Similar to the locks used on laptops to secure them to a desk in public places. This might also be a bad thing cause if the perpetrators can’t steal the panel they might just vandalize it out of spite.

exotickirk has contributed a photo to this story.

amyjudd

at 19:54 on September 27th, 2008

Interesting ideas and points - thanks for sharing them

iraqivetwifeforchange

at 19:56 on September 27th, 2008

Good luck stealing one from my roof!!!

I would sugest that we make them more affordable, and more available to everyone in common markets. This might deter thieves some. I would also suggest securing them better to the structure. Use security features like cameras, and putting pigeon wire on the edge of your roof which is cheap, will also help. That stuff hurts! Or maybe an eletrical current like those designed to deter pigeons or deer.

exotickirk

at 20:03 on September 27th, 2008

Good idea but now you’re transferring the cost from your panels to security. There has to be a better solution then setting up cameras, fences and electrical wiring (which consume electricity) considering that if we resort to using renewable resources we most conserve our energy usage. I think better installation is the cheapest and most practical at the current stage of development.

Paschen

at 20:03 on September 27th, 2008

There are new Solar cell in the making based on those used on the space station and made to be much more affordable then existing once, Vinny did report about that here on NP.

http://www.nowpublic.com/environment/solar-power-costs-sliced

kjitty

at 20:31 on September 27th, 2008

With the implementation of sustainable practices, such as solar panels and photovoltaics, rainwater collection cisterns, etc. there is an increasing market for companies designing sustainable products. But with their increased popularity, there is also a considerable demand for these products which makes them attractive to thieves.

kjitty has contributed a photo to this story.

Heritage

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 20:34 on September 27th, 2008

amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff.

kooopman

at 21:00 on September 27th, 2008

even though the one from barcelona that i was asked to contribute might not exactly be what the story is about due to its size and prominence, the panel itself is quite impressive.

kooopman has contributed a photo to this story.

panzerlawyer

at 22:04 on September 27th, 2008

I knew that was coming!

redteam

at 00:12 on September 28th, 2008

I took this photo at Burning Man 2008 - solar panels were pretty big this year and in 2007. I imagine they'll only get more and more popular.

See the original photo here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/redteam/2849759002/

redteam has contributed a photo to this story.

peachygreen

at 06:49 on September 28th, 2008

Solar panels on greenhouse near Hilo, Hawaii (September 2008). I live in Central Oregon where there are quite a few solar panels installed on buildings and traffic signs, gates, etc . I can see how people would be concerned about stealing the valuable solar panels. www.peachygreen.com

peachygreen has contributed a photo to this story.

Barry Artiste

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 07:37 on September 28th, 2008

amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff. Pretty much anything is prime property for thieves

j_cavera

at 07:44 on September 28th, 2008

Taken at Burning Man 2008

j_cavera has contributed a photo to this story.

Barbara McPherson

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 09:37 on September 28th, 2008

amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff.

johnd2008

at 11:57 on September 28th, 2008

This Solar panel was used to power a buoy at sea,an ideal use.

samannmoran

at 13:02 on September 28th, 2008

This is a new SCE solar panel installation in fontana, california.

samannmoran has contributed a photo to this story.

Karan V

at 21:43 on September 28th, 2008

These solar panels are an integral part of India Habitat Centre at New Delhi. Since it's a cultural centre where amphi theatres, art galleries, convention halls abound, it made great sense for the promoters to instal these high panels that cover a huge area _ almost 2500 sqmt! Anyone visiting the centre can't help craning his neck to have a good look at it.

Karan V has contributed a photo to this story.

jenn l.

at 12:07 on October 1st, 2008

these panels were part of generating green power for a music festival.

jenn l. has contributed a photo to this story.

treadinglightlyrobin

at 14:11 on October 1st, 2008

These are the solar panels on my parents' berm house in Maine. Aside from greatly reducing their electric bill, they also reflect the gorgeous winter landscape.

treadinglightlyrobin has contributed a photo to this story.