Dr. Adel Malahmeh, a businessman in New Iberia, owns nearly 90 buildings across Iberia Parish and surrounding areas. Recently, he has faced a challenging situation as his properties have become the target of theft, specifically his A/C condenser units. Over the past month, nine of his A/C units have been stolen, causing 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. 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 replace the entire A/C systems, both inside and outside of the buildings.
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. The people who are buying the stolen copper are not cooperating with law enforcement to help prevent future thefts. This lack of collaboration is making 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 the ongoing robberies may impact his business reputation and drive customers away, especially during hot weather conditions. Malahmeh hopes that the authorities and local community can come together to address the surge of robberies and prevent further losses to his businesses.
In an effort to combat this issue, Malahmeh has taken measures to secure his properties better by installing surveillance cameras and hiring security guards around-the-clock. He is also considering increasing insurance coverage for potential losses due to theft.
The lack of cooperation from those who buy stolen copper is a major problem that needs addressing by law enforcement agencies across Louisiana. It is crucial that they take action against those involved in this criminal activity while working closely with local communities like New Iberia to find solutions that benefit everyone involved.
Malahmeh’s experience serves as a reminder that businesses must be vigilant in protecting their assets from theft and other forms of crime. By working together with law enforcement agencies and taking proactive measures like installing surveillance cameras and hiring security guards, businesses can mitigate their risks while providing a safe environment for their employees and customers alike.