The startup unveiled its solar security systems at the Intersolar Conference earlier this month. The company’s product line includes security boxes with lights, sirens and electronics that send alerts via radio waves when panels are disconnected from a system. The company said its systems will be less than 1 percent of the cost of a solar system.

Holmes got the idea for the products while representing clients who were installing solar. One of his customers had 90 panels stolen. He found that cameras and locks on gates didn’t work to deter theft so he started looking around for a product that did. When he didn’t find anything he thought would work, he decided to try and build it himself.

Los Gatos-based Tigo Energy is also working to build functions into its solar system management software that can send alerts to solar system owners when a panel is disconnected, said Gary Gerber, an adviser to Tigo and owner of solar installer Sun Light & Power in Berkeley.

“I see it as a symptom of the economy. We’ve seen it happen with solar hot water and copper plumbing as well in the past few years. And it’s starting to show up with people, enterprising thieves who recognize they have a way to fence these somehow,” said Gerber.