Vandals Stealing Batteries From Electronic Highway Signs
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Someone is vandalizing important electronic signs in some construction zones north of Dallas. The portable electronic signs like these are more than informational to drivers; they help save lives, especially at night. But the batteries that run them are tempting targets.
From programmable digital message boards to simple arrow directional signs and bulldozers: batteries are essential to spark them into life. "They're special batteries," Capt. Kyle Babcock of the Melissa Police Department told CBS 11 News. "It's like a much larger car battery that operates those signs, the signs for directing motorists as well as earth moving equipment."
Sometimes as many as eight locked away from the weather in battery compartments. But still hit by thieves. Half-a-dozen times in Melissa in recent months, four times over the weekend in Sherman, other thefts near Lavon. No leads on who's taking them, but Babcock says they're being stolen for scrap and the precious metals at their core.
"Larger batteries, more metal to sell, more money to the criminals." We asked if the stolen batteries are valuable. "It is when you're committing theft and the profit value is 100 percent"
The thefts hurt drivers two ways. The immediate safety concern now. And again later, while contractors repair them. "It sets them back several hundred dollars per battery, it downs a piece of equipment until that battery is replaced, which then overall causes a delay in the construction project," according to Babcock.
And unlike electronic components -- or even guns -- there are no serial numbers to trace ownership. "It can be hard to track metal sales in an after-market setting like that for scrap," Babcock explained.
The batteries for these signs are mostly stolen at night. Drivers are asked that if they see something suspicious to contact police.
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