People Suck!

Updated on August 17, 2011
K.M. asks from Wakefield, MA
26 answers

So, we are renovating a house and last night someone broke in and stole all the copper pipes. Are people really that awful that they can ruin someone's future for a couple hundred dollars? I mean, we have homeowners insurance, but literally, we just closed on the property friday! I still can't believe someone out there can function, knowing they ripped someone off! I'm afraid it will look fishy to the insurance company that a few days after closing the copper disappears?! Im keeping my fingers crossed something works out for us here. But seriously, is there no end to what people will do for money?!?!?

As for the couple hundred dollars comment- I meant the people who stole it will only get a couple hundred dollars at a recycling place. It'll cost me thousands to have a plumber come in and replace all that was taken!

What can I do next?

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So What Happened?

Thanks for the support! I am a little more cooled off now. I know that people are hard up, but I agree with the person who said its probably someone who is an a$$hole anyway, because people who are dignified, and just losing jobs etc, wouldnt do that to someone else. At least thats what I believe. Drug addicts, and just people who dont have any moral policing do these kinds of things. Anyway, thanks again- and if the insurance company gives us bad news, you may see another rant or two...

Featured Answers

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K..

answers from Phoenix on

It sucks, but it's relatively common, especially with abandoned homes. The tweakers around here are the main culprits.

I'm sorry that happened to you.

1 mom found this helpful

T.K.

answers from Dallas on

Yeah you right! People do suck, especially crooks. Stealing copper wire is a trade mark of the methamphetimine epidemic. It's wierd how hard criminals work at not working.

1 mom found this helpful

L.W.

answers from Dallas on

I'm sorry that you are having to deal with that! People who do this are nothing but slime. They could care less what it does to others. My husband deals with new home construction. I can't tell you how many times this happens to new homes being built. He's had the same house hit three times in a row. Really frustrating.

1 mom found this helpful

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Scrap metal prices are at an all time high right now. LOCK THAT place UP and get an alarm!
Copper pipe is at a real premium.
And--yes--sometimes desperate people do desperate and despicable things. :(

2 moms found this helpful

C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

The people who stole it aren't thinking twice about it...so they can function just fine taking from others things which they did not earn...it's called entitlement. It sucks that people do this...

Congratulations on the closing and purchase of your new place!! I hope you have many happy years in the home!! :)

I would ensure I have a great alarm system on the house and ask the police to start doing more rounds by the home. I hope you filled out a police report...

If it's liveable - let someone that you trust stay there during the night. That will help as well.

Again - i'm sorry - that sucks...but the person or person's who took the cooper? They have no conscience so they are sleeping well knowing....well...let's just say they are sleeping well.

2 moms found this helpful

A.G.

answers from Houston on

they are starting to steal air conditioners for that too,,,,the copper...people just dont care about anyone but themselves sometimes.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.M.

answers from Washington DC on

Copper is all the rage nowadays. How awful for you.

Our police in town just caught a ring of copper thieves. Make sure you have a police report. They were hitting all the old buildings and even the college down here. I bet you aren't the only ones and insurance will know.

Sorry this happened.

2 moms found this helpful
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D.H.

answers from Louisville on

I know of places that were being built that had to hire security to be there after working hours or risk losing all the stuff AGAIN! It had already happened once at one place and twice at another (the second time they did more damage). Hope you have good luck w/repairs and insurance!

2 moms found this helpful
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J.F.

answers from Bloomington on

This totally sucks. This is supposed to be a special time with buying new home for your family.

Good luck with everything. You will have to jump through a few hoops for insurance, but it should be covered.

And, not all people suck. Just those nasty people who are out for themselves. Sending hugs!

1 mom found this helpful
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3.B.

answers from Cleveland on

Wow, I am really sorry. Yes people can really be awful. And I bet you that who took it, isn't necessarily hard up for money they are just shady nasty people. Sadly the people who are in the most need, can be the most honest. Someone who goes into a home and takes specific things usually know what gets them the quickest buck and they've probably done it to a dozen people or more,
Best of luck to you and I hope your insurance companies honors this as a robbery! (Kind of like what we pay them lol)

1 mom found this helpful

M.D.

answers from Washington DC on

They are still building in my neighborhood and this happens kind of a lot. So sad. When they were still building around our house we saw it a lot, so I'm sure it is happening in the newer section. I am so, so sorry people did this to you. Can you lock the house? Alarm it? Not sure what stage it is in and if this is even possible. I wish you luck!!

1 mom found this helpful
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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

Foreclosures in my area have been getting hit. I heard a woman at the store telling the cashier that the house they had just made an offer on was stripped of copper pipes, electrical wires (yes they do have metal so are worth something), and some of the kitchen cabinets. To get to the pipes and wires, they put tons of holes in the walls so now the damages are way over cost wise and the bank may not pay to correct. She said they were going to withdraw but was really upset about it because the house was great for the family. And I live in a pretty good area so it is not just location related. People scout out empty homes.

1 mom found this helpful

D.D.

answers from New York on

Don't worry about the insurance company thinking something is fishy; they see this kind of stuff every day. As long as you have the police report you are ok. The people that break into houses and steal the copper don't care about the property at all. They are just out to get the money from selling it.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.G.

answers from Albuquerque on

Yes they do suck. Theives are so heartless. It was probably some junkie just looking for some quick cash for a fix.
Im sure your insurance company is no stranger to copper thefts at all. When we bought our home 5yrs ago, they couldnt install appliances until the day the house closed due to people coming at night kicking in front doors and stealing the entire kitchen -including the kitchen sink. Sad isnt it.

1 mom found this helpful

K.*.

answers from Los Angeles on

Oh geez, what a bummer! I'm sorry this happened to your new home :( What a bunch of dirtbags!

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K.P.

answers from New York on

This happens to my husband all the time on jobs. It's really sad what people will take and sell. I'm sorry this happened to you. Report it and file a claim, though.

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V.T.

answers from Dallas on

It sucks, but I would really think twice about filing a homeowners claim over a couple hundred dollars. What is your deductible and how much would you stand to gain from insurance? Also, each claim goes against you and a lot of insurance companies will drop you after two claims and do you really want this to be one of your claims? My husband's in insurance and we would never file a claim for less than a couple thousand dollars, just not worth the potential risk of losing your insurance or causing your rates to go up. Homeowners is expensive enough as it is.

But to answer your question, people will do anything for money, even a couple hundred bucks.

S.M.

answers from Kansas City on

I agree that people are awful and no person has a right to be that desperate. There are food pantries and charities and JOBS... There are day labor places and most people can sell plasma. I only wish I could. No matter how desperate I get, I would not do that. A person could even pick up CANS. My neighbor walked the neighborhood and picked up cans until she was 85 years old and just a few weeks before she died.

I'm sorry that you have to get all this replaced. That's just terrible.

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C.W.

answers from Santa Barbara on

So sorry this happened to you. This unfortunately makes me think of a post from a few days ago where so many mothers were saying it was fine and their right to sneak their older children into theme parks for free baby prices. I kept thinking if these same moms would feel fine if somebody felt entitled to steal things out of their house or car...even in this economy. Yep, people suck!

L.B.

answers from Biloxi on

This is very common on building sites in my area - copper pipe is easy to steal and easy to recycle as it seems the recycle companies don't ever question where it came from - maybe if they would the thefts would slack off.

File the claim - your insurance company has probably seen this before and it should not be a problem.

Good Luck
God Bless

T.L.

answers from St. Louis on

Nope, people are hard up for money right now. No matter how much you read about the economy getting better us lower class people aren't seeing anything get better. People are looting items left and right where we live and we used to live in a great neighborhood.

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K.S.

answers from Bloomington on

Ouch!!! If it makes you feel any better, I wouldn't do a thing like that. I don't know how people can either.

Hope the insurance doesn't think anything of it!

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

In Hawaii, there was a time period where someone/a group of people, were stealing Copper anything, from everywhere... even Government sites, construction sites and along highways even, copper wiring, pipes, anything with Copper in it.
It is money. Copper. People steal it.

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J.B.

answers from Atlanta on

I'm sure the insurance has thousands of these claims. Unfortunately it is a very common crime. Entire neighborhoods have been hit here in Atlanta just for copper pipe/wiring. It's almost guaranteed if a hpuse is vacant. Sad state of affairs, but these are the same people who will smash your car window in for a quarter.

E.D.

answers from Seattle on

No, people are not that awful. People ARE *that* desperate.

Regardless of motive, this still affects you and yours and it DOES suck. Hoping it works out...

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