Dr. Adel Malahmeh, a successful businessman in New Iberia, owns nearly 90 buildings in the surrounding areas. Recently, his A/C condenser units have been targeted by thieves, resulting in significant financial losses and inconvenience to his business operations. Over the past month, nine of his A/C units have been stolen, leaving him with no choice but to replace the entire systems inside and outside of the buildings.
The theft of A/C units is not only affecting Malahmeh financially but also impacting the comfort of his patients and customers. The stolen units contain valuable copper that is often sold for scrap metal or on the black market. The thieves are causing thousands of dollars in damages by breaking into the units and stealing the copper cores. This has left Malahmeh with no choice but to invest heavily in new systems and equipment to prevent future thefts.
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 are calling on law enforcement to work closely with local scrap metal dealers and other stakeholders to identify those who are buying stolen copper and bring them to justice. However, they fear that some people may be cooperating with thieves rather than reporting suspicious activity.
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 during hot weather conditions. Malahmeh hopes that local authorities and community members can come together to address this surge in crime and prevent further losses to businesses like his.
In conclusion, Dr. Adel Malahmeh’s experience highlights how vulnerable businesses can be when it comes to copper thefts. As a result of this issue, he has had to invest heavily in new systems and equipment while also facing financial losses due to stolen A/C units. It’s important for law enforcement agencies to work closely with stakeholders such as scrap metal dealers and other businesses affected by these crimes