PORTERVILLE, Calif. — After 16 years of investigating agricultural crimes, Bobby Rader has channeled his frustration with persistent copper wire theft into a practical solution aimed at protecting farmers and their operations, KFSN reported.
Rader, a member of a local law enforcement Ag-Crimes unit, is the creator of COP-R-LOCK, a new security system designed to detect and deter copper theft, a crime that continues to cost the agriculture industry millions each year, in real time.
STAYING ALERT: What officers need to improve situational awareness
“We created change that was desperately needed,” Rader told KFSN. “Copper wire theft has been tolerated way too long.”
The theft of copper wiring — often valued at just a few hundred dollars by thieves — can result in tens of thousands of dollars in damage to farmers, particularly when it disrupts irrigation or harvest operations.
How it works
COP-R-LOCK is a tamper-sensitive system installed at agricultural sites to protect electrical panels, conduits and wiring, according to the report. If a thief attempts to access or cut the system, it immediately triggers alarms, lights, and real time notifications to the property owner or manager.
“There is no way a criminal can begin the theft without triggering the system…” Rader explained. “Just opening the panel sets it off.”
The system is patent-pending and currently installed at four sites, with 20 more installations underway. Rader is also partnering with Farmblox, a company specializing in agricultural technology.
Real time response
A major advantage of COP-R-LOCK, Rader noted, is that it enables real time response — something that hasn’t been possible in past investigations.
“I have been an ag crimes expert for 16 years,” Rader told KFSN. “I have never responded to a copper wire theft in progress, but now we can. Now we can go to a copper wire theft in progress, that changes everything. That is music to the ears of a good cop.”
Cost and accessibility
A typical COP-R-LOCK setup costs under $4,000, a fraction of what farmers often pay to repair damage. Rental options are also available to make the system more accessible to smaller operations.
