HOUSTON – A Houston dessert shop owner says her business was targeted twice in less than a week by people trying to steal copper wiring. Doorbell camera video shows both of the incidents — leaving her with electrical damage, a power outage and thousands of dollars in lost inventory.
Jasmine Chida, owner of SweetCup Gelato on Montrose Boulevard, says she first noticed two people she believed were scouting the shopping center on Saturday.
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The next morning, she says they attempted to steal copper wiring from the back of the business.
The first attempt was unsuccessful, but it left SweetCup without power for about seven hours. Chida estimates she lost about $2,000 in gelato and other inventory because of the outage.
She says the business was then targeted again around 5 a.m. Friday.
Surveillance video provided by Chida shows people at the back of the property, with a rope attached to PVC piping that houses electrical wiring. Chida says the people then used a vehicle in an attempt to pull the wiring away from the building.
A contractor who evaluated the damage after the second attempt determined that some of the wiring had been successfully stolen. The stolen wire could be worth an estimated $1,350 to $1,500 at roughly $5 per pound.
But Chida says the potential impact on her business is far greater than the value of the copper.
“That’s like $4,000, $5,000 of inventory and a sales weekend we can’t afford to lose,” she said.
CenterPoint disconnected the wires inside the PVC pipes after the first attempt. Chida says that helped prevent another power outage during the second incident, although the property sustained additional damage.
City says copper theft is increasing
The incident comes as the Office of Houston City Council Member Joe Panzarella says HPD has reported an uptick in copper wire theft over the past few years.
The office says the impact on businesses can extend far beyond the stolen material, including loss of power, air conditioning and other essential infrastructure.
Those disruptions can force businesses to close while repairs are made, creating additional financial pressure for companies already operating on tight budgets.
The council member’s office says commercial properties with limited security or several empty storefronts can be particularly vulnerable to wire theft.
Chida says SweetCup is now the only business remaining in the shopping center after other tenants left following the COVID-19 pandemic.
She says she has never experienced copper wire theft at the property during the nearly 15 years she has operated there.
Business owner urges others to stay alert
Chida says she’s sharing her surveillance video in hopes that other business owners will recognize the warning signs and stay vigilant.
She says she’s also considering additional security measures, including fencing around vulnerable areas.
Councilmember Panzarella’s office encourages business owners to report every instance of copper theft to HPD so law enforcement can document the incidents and identify potential patterns.
The office also recommends that business owners talk with their insurance providers before a theft occurs to understand what coverage is available.
For businesses in District C experiencing repeated copper theft, the council member’s office says they can reach out for the latest recommendations and resources.
Chida says her biggest concern now is what could happen if the thieves return a third time.
“I want other business owners to keep an eye out for this so it doesn’t happen to them,” she said. “We’re all a big community.”