Crime No cold cases: thefts of air conditioners on the rise

Police have reported a sharp increase in the theft of outdoor air-conditioning units, particularly in suburban areas of the Kantō region, and have acknowledged that they are facing considerable difficulty in tracing those responsible. According to the NPA, the surge is likely connected to the rising value of copper, given that copper piping is a common component in these external units. Authorities have also suggested that not all the stolen units are being stripped for materials alone; some may be finding their way onto the black market, where demand is growing among those seeking low-cost alternatives to stay cool during the summer months.

NPA statistics show that 255 units were reported stolen across Japan in 2020, but this figure has steadily doubled year-on-year, rising to 442 in 2021, 819 in 2022, 1,717 in 2023, and reaching 3,397 cases in 2024. In terms of regional distribution, Ibaraki Prefecture recorded the highest number of thefts in 2024, with 594 cases, followed by Saitama with 563, Chiba with 402, and Gunma with 259. In contrast, more urbanised areas saw far fewer incidents, with Tokyo logging 60 and Osaka 101. Police have observed that the low numbers in these cities may be due to the greater risk of being noticed in densely populated neighbourhoods.

In April 2024, officers from the public safety division of Choshi Police Station came up with a countermeasure based on anti-theft registration stickers on bicycles. They started working with the city government to create stickers featuring the serial numbers of air conditioners and asked residents to place them on their outdoor units. If these units were stolen, police would have a way to track them down and identify their proper owners. The stickers were bright yellow and made of durable material. They had "Choshi Police Station" and "Choshi Municipal Government" written on them to act as a deterrence. From around May 2024, police distributed more than 200 stickers to residents mainly in areas with high theft rates. In an "aha" moment in April this year, a police officer found a yellow sticker attached to an outdoor unit amid a pile of about 50 air conditioners at a scrap metal store in Asahi, Chiba Prefecture.

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I went to floor model AC units. A lot easier on the back to install. They are on wheels so easy to move and the window only has to be open about 4 inches. The only drawback to me is having to drain them often in humid weather. One in the front and one in the back of the house keeps the house nice and cool. Because my house is white in color and well insulated , I only have to run them about 3 hours a day.