Copper Thefts: New Iberia Businessman Struggles to Keep Up with Thieves Amid Rising Incidents

In New Iberia, Dr. Adel Malahmeh is a businessman who owns nearly 90 buildings across the area. Recently, Malahmeh has been facing a tough situation as his properties have become the target of theft, specifically his A/C condenser units. Over the past month, nine of his units have been stolen, resulting in significant financial losses and inconvenience to his business operations.

The theft of A/C units is not only impacting Malahmeh financially but also affecting the comfort of his patients and customers. The stolen units contain copper, which is valuable and often sold for scrap metal or on the black market. Thieves are causing thousands of dollars in damages by breaking into the units and stealing the copper cores. With no choice left but to replace the entire A/C systems, both inside and outside of the buildings, Malahmeh is struggling to keep up with the costs.

Despite filing an incident report with the New Iberia Police, Malahmeh and his attorney Frank Barber believe that more could be done to address the ongoing issue of copper theft. They argue that people who are buying stolen copper are not cooperating with law enforcement to help prevent future thefts. This lack of collaboration makes it difficult for Malahmeh to protect his properties and provide a comfortable environment for his customers.

As a result of the A/C unit thefts, Malahmeh is worried about losing customers due to the lack of air conditioning in his properties. He fears that ongoing robberies may impact his business reputation and drive customers away, especially during hot weather conditions. Malahmeh hopes that authorities and members of the local community can come together to address this surge in robberies and prevent further losses to his businesses.

In conclusion, Dr. Adel Malahmeh’s experience highlights how theft can significantly impact businesses financially and operationally. As such, it’s crucial for law enforcement agencies and communities to work together to combat this issue before it becomes an even bigger problem for businesses like Dr. Adel’s.