27
Jul
2015
By Calvin at 13:48 GMT, 8 years ago
If there is one thing I really love about running The Crime Prevention Website is that on occasion I get contacted by someone who has thought up a brand new way to defeat the criminal!
David Jones from West London is the latest innovation-meister who has come up with a novel way to prevent thieves climbing rainwater pipes.
I cannot give you the precise number (police data is not released to the public in this format), but it is a certain fact that a significant proportion of first floor window break-ins involve the use of a climbable rainwater pipe next to an open window. In addition to this there are numerous other burglaries that have involved pipe climbing up to balconies and flat roofs. What David has done is to invent a DIY fit device to render the pipe useless for the purpose of climbing.
How it works: The Kelly Coupling incorporates a stainless steel compression spring within a long lasting rubber sleeve, which replaces a small section of an existing or new rainwater pipe. When a thief attempts to climb up the pipe the spring compresses and the pipe to which it is attached decouples from the joint above. After a failed attempt to climb the pipe, the pipe can be easily refitted.
Technical Information: The coupling is available in two strengths; one for plastic pipes and the ‘Kelly Plus’ for cast iron pipes. The stainless steel springs are grade 302 which include similar quantities of chromium and nickel to grade 304, and with more carbon for tensile strength and ductility; a perfect combination for springs. Both grades are suitable for inland industrial use and easily cope with rural situations. The rubber sleeve is made from EPDM rubber, a material that is widely used for roof coverings and pond and canal linings. Like stainless steel, EPDM rubber has good atmospheric resistance and doesn't pollute water (important if you’re harvesting water into a butt). The couplings are made from PVC with a performance life of over 30 years. These couplings separate the spring from the pipe, so if your pipe is a metal of a different noble value, there will be no galvanic corrosion brought about by chemical reaction. You’ll need to replace a couple of the standard pipe brackets with Kelly clips, which are designed to hold the pipe to the wall under normal stresses, but will release the pipe should someone attempt to climb it. The component parts are sourced from British companies, and the coupling is assembled in London.
The Kelly Coupling is supplied with full fitting instructions and warning signs. The warning signs should be placed where a potential climber can see them, such as at eye level on the ground floor or possibly close to a window that may be used as a place from which to climb out of a building. Using the warning signs is a must in terms of compliance with the Occupiers Liability Act. The signs will also act as a deterrent to attempt climbing in the first place.
If you need assistance when fitting you can contact Kelly Coupling at kellycoupling@gmail.com You can also view the instructions on their website at http://shop.kellycoupling.net/
The Kelly Coupling is the new anti-climb-crime product on the market and can now be found in our Directory at http://thecrimepreventionwebsite.com/directory/l82/kellycoupling/
