PNM provides prevention and safety tips during PNM Copper Theft Awareness Month

(Albuquerque, NM) – September is PNM's annual Copper Theft Awareness Month, a time to educate and warn customers about copper theft and ways to possibly prevent this crime. Throughout September, PNM is alerting residential and business customers about how to identify copper theft, what they can do if they become a victim, how to report it and what steps they can take to deter copper thieves.

Copper is a valuable metal widely used in electrical wiring due to its excellent conductivity and durability. However, its high market value has made it a target for thieves at homes, businesses, scrap sites and utilities. Copper theft can lead to power outages, high repair costs, and dangerous situations for both the public, PNM employees and the thieves themselves.

So far this year, PNM has received 92 reports of business customers hit by copper thieves. In 2023, PNM received a total of 84 copper-theft reports from businesses. Copper theft can cost customers tens of thousands of dollars to repair and replace when you factor in the time a business will have to close to make repairs.

Once the neutral copper is stolen, customers may find that even though their power is on it fluctuates, electronics spark, or arc around the meter box or transformer. Copper thieves often leave open the transformers housed in the green metal boxes containing electrical equipment and live wires. Touching such transformers could be deadly. Stay away, never touch this equipment, and report it to PNM immediately by calling 888-DIAL PNM.

To deter copper thieves, businesses can install protective devices (like the one pictured below) that barricade the doors to transformers and meters and cover the locks and handles to deter access. Visit PNM.com/energy-and-copper-theft for more information.

Residential customers can also take the following steps to deter copper theft at their home:

Illuminate your yard using motion sensors.
Install security lighting and/or cameras.
Do not leave equipment/metals exposed and unsecured.
Join or organize a neighborhood watch network. See something, say something. Sharing of information is key.

To report suspected copper theft, call PNM immediately at 888-DIAL-PNM (888-342-5766) so PNM can send out a crew to make the area safe. Unless you report an open transformer, PNM may not know it occurred. Share what you know anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers at 505-843-STOP (505-843-7867). Anonymous tips can also be submitted at P3tips.com/531. Crime Stoppers will pay a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of individuals involved in copper theft.