What alerted my family to the robbery was the fact that the electric bill was zero for two months. When the power company checked the house, they discovered that the copper wiring had been stripped from the box. No electricity, no bill.

Because of the dramatic rise in the cost of metals, even a small, modest home that is hardly noticeable became a target for burglars.

It stands to reason that a large, empty, commercial building would be a virtual copper mine to thieves. This means that risk managers must take extra precautions and be vigilant, making sure their property is secure.

While costs of security and coverage will no doubt rise as a result of this criminal trend, the alternative is buildings rendered useless, stripped of all wiring, air-conditioning units and anything else seen of value.

The good news is that detectives in this area of North Carolina say they have located two theft rings targeting empty homes. One man in custody was thought to have worked with a group that robbed our house and others in the vicinity as well.

The bad news is that this won't bring back the stolen items or the damage done to the premises.

Caroline McDonald

Assistant Managing Editor