Officials work to reduce construction thefts

McALLEN - Local and national authorities have attacked construction site thefts as building continues in the booming Hidalgo County area.

Thieves often plunder materials, tools and even ornamental doors from buildings under construction, said police officials and local construction managers. But a new state law and measures by the police have stemmed such thefts in recent months.

Texas lawmakers took action last year against thieves who steal copper and aluminum from building sites. As of Sept. 1, companies that buy scrap metal must require more verification from those selling to them. In other words, it's harder for people to sell stolen copper and aluminum back to yards.

McAllen police Chief Victor Rodriguez said his department has also taken a proactive stance against those who steal metal and other construction materials.

"We've been trying to stem the metal thefts by working with the scrap-metal yards," he said. "We've sensed some slowdown because of that."

Even so, the chief offered some advice to the many companies building projects in McAllen and the surrounding area:

- Light up and secure the sites at night.

- Coordinate deliveries of valuable materials with the time those materials will be used on the site.

- Do not leave valuables unattended for weeks.

- Make sure you trust the people working for you.

The chief said the suspects in thefts often are people who work on the site or for the company.

Some local construction companies echoed his advice.

Rosa Valencia has owned Homes of America since 1992, selling prefab homes in the Alamo area. In 2000 she diversified her company and started building her own homes under the banner of Valencia Homes Construction.

She says she only works with contractors she trusts implicitly.

"Whoever is your general construction manager, you want to make sure you do a good background check on him," Valencia said.

She also keeps most materials at her company's headquarters rather than unattended at the site.

Bruce Savage, vice president of communication for the Washington, D.C.-based Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, warns would-be thieves that it's in their own best interest to avoid messing with copper.

At many homes and construction sites, copper conduits are electrified or are hooked up to natural gas, Savage said. Thieves often harm themselves while trying to steal them.
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Zack Quaintance covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4447.