Atlanta Plumbers, Plumb Xpress, Sound off on Plumbing Part Thefts from Fast Food Chains

    NORCROSS, GA, May 23, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Plumbing part theft is really throwing a wrench in the works at fast food restaurants and other businesses across the country.

It seems that the theft of plumbing parts is a growing crime. There have been fast food chains, a church, warehouses and other businesses that have been hit by toilet bandits. These thefts take approximately 3 to 5 minutes. In some cases, the thieves don't bother to use the shut-off valve and the subsequent flooding has caused damage.

Not only is plumbing theft a ridiculous crime, there isn't much money in it. A motion-sensored toilet flusher costs about $400 to replace. The scrap value of the stolen parts is around $10 to $15.

Most of the thefts take place during peak business hours when employees are distracted. The thief enters a restroom with a large wrench that they have concealed on their person and after turning off the water flow, they systematically remove the plumbing equipment. Within a few minutes, they are out the door and on their way.

Recently, the toilet bandits have hit several Burger Kings in the Knoxville, TN area. Thieves in Milwaukee, WI made off with over $30,000 in toilet parts from area fast food restaurants and universities. This problem can be found all over the United States. In Florida, metal valves from outside pipes were stolen from a church.

Businesses are taking these thefts seriously. Police are actively investigating many of these incidents and some businesses have been able to catch the thieves on surveillance cameras. Managers have increased random bathroom checks and in some cases, they have placed locks on urinals to deter thieves.

"Plumbing businesses across the country are keeping an eye out for thieves that are trying to pass off stolen parts," Donnie Herrin, Owner of Plumb Xpress explained. "It is important that we work with law enforcement to catch these guys. We hope that with a team effort between the plumbing industry, scrap yards, police and observant business owners, we can put a stop to this."

For more information about plumbing services and repairs, please visit http://www.911yourplumber.com.

About Plumb Xpress Plumbing and Drain:
The premier Atlanta plumbing company, Plumb Xpress Plumbing and Drain is located in Kennesaw, Ga., and serves all of the metro-Atlanta area. They offer both commercial and residential plumbing services, and they specialize in drain cleaning and sewer repairs. They use the latest technology to effectively troubleshoot any plumbing problem and make repairs quickly and correctly. Estimates are always free, and they even offer a free 15-minute service call.

For more information, visit http://www.911yourplumber.com

For all media inquiries, please contact:

Allie Petit
Content Manager
Cardinal Web Solutions
http://www.CardinalWebSolutions.com

# # #