A Thief in the Light? On the Recent Wave of Solar Panel Thefts
I’m not sure what to say. I just scratch my head and say “Really?” That, it appears, is pretty much the feeling of law enforcement and solar system owners in the San Francisco Bay Area right now in the wake of a recent wave of solar panel thefts. It’s a spree that nobody expected and one that the solar industry is now making a note of.
The main victims of the thefts have been schools and churches, according to InsideBayArea.com. At first it is all head scratching, but the answer to “Why?” is simple enough: money. Solar panels are a hot commodity right now. Authorities believe that the thieves are selling the panels via websites such as eBay or Craigslist. Given the high cost of each panel, there is plenty of money to be made.
Should you worry? Not likely. The thing is, not just anyone can steal solar panels. It takes skill and some inside knowledge of solar installation to properly remove a panel without impairing it. Assuming the present thieves are located and apprehended, it seems unlikely that others will jump up to replace them.
Nonetheless, the idea has been put out there and these thieves have proven that it can be successful, at least for a time. Therefore, the solar industry and consumers are working on ways to make panels more secure. If you are a solar system owner, especially in the Bay Area, you can check out the article here and, perhaps, call your installer or supplier for information on added security.
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Posted on September 9th in Solar News by Dan.
September 9th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Wow, I wouldn’t have thought given that most panels would be bolted down that lifting them would present problems sufficient for thieves to stick with other easier items. I guess in the case of churches and schools where some may be located as such that few people are about, giving time for the thieves. If this becomes more prevalent, someone will need to work out away to extend anti-tamper triggers for the security alarm to cover the solar panels.
September 10th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Indeed, I thought that bolts and other mounting hardware would dissuade most thieves. And I believe that it still does. These are experienced and knowledgeable people taking the panels. Let’s hope this fades out but, should it not, your idea of extending alarm systems is a good one. We shall see…
January 10th, 2009 at 10:34 am
I installed a couple of thin film solar panels, but I made a steel structure around them, by using welded joints. If somebody wants to remove my panels, this guy must practically destroy them. Besides, taking away the whole array would not be an easy task because of the weight.