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Renew Deal

(81,802 posts)
Mon Feb 13, 2012, 12:45 PM Feb 2012

Scrap Metal Theft

I read a news item this morning that "scrap metal" was stolen from a town dump. That seems like an odd crime. How much scrap metal was stolen? How was it accessed? How much is it worth? How big of a vehicle do you need for this type of crime?

Who is stealing scrap metal? Is it really worth the money? I've heard about copper being stolen in some cases, but scrap metal? I guess iron and steel are valuable now?

I did some looking on the interwebs and found a write up from Nationwide Insurance.

Think Metal Theft Can’t Happen To You?

One of the fastest growing crimes in the United States is metal theft. Copper, aluminum, nickel, stainless steel and scrap iron have become the desired target of thieves looking to make a quick buck. An increase in demand for these metals from Asian markets such as China and India has created a thriving international scrap trade, resulting in much higher prices.

Of particular concern is copper, now selling for approximately $4,400 a ton, up 50% since the beginning of 2009. Copper theft often includes gutters, flashings, downspouts, water lines and electrical wiring that can be quickly stripped from vacant buildings, industrial facilities, commercial buildings and construction sites. Air conditioning units are particularly attractive, and are often tampered with or stolen for their copper coils and pipes that connect to HVAC systems. The metal is then sold to recycling companies and scrap yards for a huge profit.

While the economy struggles, metal theft is expected to increase as people become desperate for any kind of income.

“Metal theft is a real problem that tends to be underestimated. No one thinks it will happen to them,” says Nationwide Agent Ron Keats, president of The Keats Agency of Long Island, N.Y. “Vacant buildings and homes under construction are huge targets for thieves. The contractor locks the door, walks away and thinks it’s safe. But it’s not.”

Keats knows from experience. His brother’s new home, just days from being finished, was the target of metal theft. It was picked clean of copper, causing substantial damage, pushing back the completion date by months and costing the contractor significant additional expense.
<snip>

Preventing metal theft

To combat the metal theft problem, at least 28 states and scores of municipalities around the country have passed laws tightening the restrictions on scrap dealers. In some instances, purchases of scrap metal are required to be held in reserve for a week or more before being resold in case it has been stolen. Some states require dealers to record the seller’s name, address and driver’s license.

http://www.nationwide.com/metal-theft-prevention.jsp


I guess there's something new to worry about...
28 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Scrap Metal Theft (Original Post) Renew Deal Feb 2012 OP
not new for me JustAnotherGen Feb 2012 #1
$20K Renew Deal Feb 2012 #2
Yeppers JustAnotherGen Feb 2012 #16
Our County 1ProudAtheist Feb 2012 #3
That has been a problem for decades in NY MattBaggins Feb 2012 #15
Scrap metal theft is a more and more common crime Marrah_G Feb 2012 #4
I had a used washer and dryer and an old stove RebelOne Feb 2012 #22
if you put out any metal in the trash here it is gone in like an hour Marrah_G Feb 2012 #23
I heardthat some people who were being forclosed on.... TheMightyFavog Feb 2012 #25
I probably would! Marrah_G Feb 2012 #28
Around here there is theft of copper pipes from construction sites as well as air conditioners and yellowcanine Feb 2012 #5
Did someone say scrap metal? Erose999 Feb 2012 #6
Bubbles.. my favorite "Wire" character. Next to Omar, of course. nt Bigmack Feb 2012 #26
8000 dollars worth of copper ripped out of irrigation equipment madrchsod Feb 2012 #7
My parents business Aerows Feb 2012 #8
Two months ago I had the frames of several screens for windows stolen. Seedersandleechers Feb 2012 #9
Scrap thieves stole a bridge in Pa., last year pintobean Feb 2012 #10
It is literally out of control in our area.... zabet Feb 2012 #11
There's a reason why commercial ACs have metal cages and locks now obamanut2012 Feb 2012 #12
They are also robbing high school and college band rooms obamanut2012 Feb 2012 #13
Very much a reflection of the sad state of our economy. hunter Feb 2012 #14
A guy was walking away from his unlocked car when he realized he had left his banjo in the backseat NNN0LHI Feb 2012 #19
I think the metal in that statue... hunter Feb 2012 #21
Google "manhole cover theft" NNN0LHI Feb 2012 #17
Some fatal accidents have been caused by stolen traffic signs ... eppur_se_muova Feb 2012 #18
It has become pretty common around these parts. Arkansas has passed a scrap metal law Arkansas Granny Feb 2012 #20
Someone needs to point them in this direction ... eppur_se_muova Feb 2012 #24
It's a problem around here Irishonly Feb 2012 #27

JustAnotherGen

(31,683 posts)
1. not new for me
Mon Feb 13, 2012, 12:55 PM
Feb 2012

My fiance is a Metal artist, who also does interior and exterior design work (think custom railings, copper benches that look like dolphine, juried artist and he also is a UNESCO recognized restoration and preservation specialist.

His shop finally stopped getting hit when one of his employees suggested an after hours guard and security fencing. Did that and no theft in 7 months.

Last one was for about $20K worth of copper sheeting.

JustAnotherGen

(31,683 posts)
16. Yeppers
Mon Feb 13, 2012, 04:06 PM
Feb 2012

Was for a doctor in NYC that wanted a custom copper bar in his entertainment room. At least it wasn't finished!

 

1ProudAtheist

(346 posts)
3. Our County
Mon Feb 13, 2012, 12:59 PM
Feb 2012

here in SC is one of the ones that have made it mandantory for the seller of any scrap metal to obtain a license to do so, and any buyers to record the names, addresses, telephone numbers and license numbers of all sellers. A/C theft was outrageous here this past summer. The net result, car theft has increased and adjoining counties have seen scrap metal dealerships explode as the thieves are crossing county and state lines to sell their wares.

Marrah_G

(28,581 posts)
4. Scrap metal theft is a more and more common crime
Mon Feb 13, 2012, 01:00 PM
Feb 2012

I know in my town they contracted a guy to go around and pick up big items on certain days or scheduled times. He did so because he would make his money off the scrap metal ( appliances and such) but unfortunately for his business there are people who drive around all day picking up scrap metal from the side of the road and that left him picking up just the stuff he made no money on. That wasn't technically theft but it shows how valuable the scrap can be.

Often new construction or abandoned houses have the copper stolen out of them. It's sold as scrap for good money.

RebelOne

(30,947 posts)
22. I had a used washer and dryer and an old stove
Mon Feb 13, 2012, 05:23 PM
Feb 2012

that I wanted to get rid of. My son had a friend who picked them up. If I had to have them hauled to a dump it would have cost me. But this guy took them off my hands. In this case, it was a win-win situation. I saved money and he made money.

Marrah_G

(28,581 posts)
23. if you put out any metal in the trash here it is gone in like an hour
Mon Feb 13, 2012, 08:11 PM
Feb 2012

It's like they have special sprap spidey senses

TheMightyFavog

(13,770 posts)
25. I heardthat some people who were being forclosed on....
Wed Feb 15, 2012, 06:12 PM
Feb 2012

Would rip out the copper pipe from the house just before the bank officially took over as a final "Fuck You" to the bank.

yellowcanine

(35,692 posts)
5. Around here there is theft of copper pipes from construction sites as well as air conditioners and
Mon Feb 13, 2012, 01:14 PM
Feb 2012

heat pumps for their copper. Copper gutters and downspouts, as well as bronze plaques from public buildings and monuments are fair game for thieves also.

Erose999

(5,624 posts)
6. Did someone say scrap metal?
Mon Feb 13, 2012, 01:23 PM
Feb 2012


They aren't just taking scrap metal, there are thieves who go to construction sites and steal the copper wire, the plumbing parts, and other valuable materials out of houses while they're being built.

madrchsod

(58,162 posts)
7. 8000 dollars worth of copper ripped out of irrigation equipment
Mon Feb 13, 2012, 01:24 PM
Feb 2012

cost the farmers over 40,000 in repairs. this happened last week in my part of northern il.

 

Aerows

(39,961 posts)
8. My parents business
Mon Feb 13, 2012, 01:40 PM
Feb 2012

Had two large outside air conditioner units stolen for the copper before they put a cage around it and bolted it into the ground. This is by no means uncommon - copper theft is a big problem in many areas.

Seedersandleechers

(3,044 posts)
9. Two months ago I had the frames of several screens for windows stolen.
Mon Feb 13, 2012, 01:42 PM
Feb 2012

I was home at the time and just wished they had knocked on my door and I would have given them money instead.

zabet

(6,793 posts)
11. It is literally out of control in our area....
Mon Feb 13, 2012, 01:57 PM
Feb 2012

metal thieves are even taking siding off of mobile homes that are unoccupied (for whatever reason). My nephew still owns his Mom and Dad's old place even though he lives about an hour away, the siding has been gradually stolen, the wiring ripped out, and last time he checked, the person or persons stealing the stuff, had started removing flooring to cut chunks of the trailer chassis out with using a torch.

Our local law enforcement really does little to stop this, even if called. A girlfriend had an old car (running, tagged and insured) stolen, she called the cops, a report was taken.....and the efforts of their search for this car was to car her every 6 weeks or so and ask her had she found it yet.

Around here, you can sell a vehicle for scrap with no title or proof of ownership if the vehicle is over 10 years old. Every day in my rural neighborhood, I see unfamiliar trucks with scrap on them, slowly cruising and looking.

I personally have had a 30 foot camper (that nothing was wrong with) and an old tractor disappear in the last 6 months. I have had absolutely no help from the local law enforcement beyond taking the report. I actually called the scrap yards 3 months after they were gone and asked about the items, and asked whether or not the law enforcement had checked. I was told by the 2 biggest ones in the area that the only thing the law enforcement does, is on occassion, have a deputy sit at the entrance of the scrap yard. This deputy does nothing but they assume his presence will deter any illegal sells. Again

We have people stealing metal out of local construction workers trucks when they go to Walmart or the grocery store around here.

I do not really see how dealing through a licensed dealer would change any thing much other than add another payout to the mix.

I could literally take my backhoe and demolish to the point of being unrecognizable, any motor vehicle, them smash it down, load it on the trailer, and sell it......whether it was mine or not....they would never know....nor would they go to the trouble to check.

I have sold several loads myself (of scrap off of the farm that has accumulated for 40 years), the last one was over 1000 dollars. It is a lucrative turnaround for what is basically trash.

I personally now have infra-red day and night video surveillance that records any time motion is detected. That and the "NO TRESPASSING" along with the "BEWARE OF DOGS" signs has seemed to have deterred a lot. The one I have caught was only charged with trespassing since they were stopped before they loaded anything up.

obamanut2012

(25,911 posts)
12. There's a reason why commercial ACs have metal cages and locks now
Mon Feb 13, 2012, 02:03 PM
Feb 2012

Check out your local library, business,

hunter

(38,264 posts)
14. Very much a reflection of the sad state of our economy.
Mon Feb 13, 2012, 02:34 PM
Feb 2012

We're turning into one of "those" nations.

Next step, you have to take off your windshield wipers and lock them in the trunk of your car.

Ronald Reagan reaps what he sows:



The enterprising fellows who tried to pull down this statue didn't know or care who the fuck Reagan was.

They were perfect Republicans: All they saw was something they could cut up and sell.

NNN0LHI

(67,190 posts)
19. A guy was walking away from his unlocked car when he realized he had left his banjo in the backseat
Mon Feb 13, 2012, 04:49 PM
Feb 2012

So he went back and locked it to be safe.

When he came out he noticed someone had smashed his car window and when he looked in the backseat there were two banjos laying there.

Don

hunter

(38,264 posts)
21. I think the metal in that statue...
Mon Feb 13, 2012, 05:17 PM
Feb 2012

...would be much happier as decorative garden faucet handles.

But even banjo parts would be an improvement.

eppur_se_muova

(36,227 posts)
18. Some fatal accidents have been caused by stolen traffic signs ...
Mon Feb 13, 2012, 04:47 PM
Feb 2012

I think it was on DU that I first read about RR crossing signs being stolen in Western states. At isolated crossings, there is no gate or signal, just the sign.

Arkansas Granny

(31,483 posts)
20. It has become pretty common around these parts. Arkansas has passed a scrap metal law
Mon Feb 13, 2012, 04:59 PM
Feb 2012

requiring documentation of where the metal came from before it can be sold to a dealer. I don't know what all that entails. We've had people electrocuted while trying to steal copper wiring.

eppur_se_muova

(36,227 posts)
24. Someone needs to point them in this direction ...
Wed Feb 15, 2012, 03:57 PM
Feb 2012
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17037162

A giant statue of Kim Jong-il has been unveiled ahead of Thursday's celebrations of the 70th anniversary of his birthday.

This is the first bronze sculpture of the late North Korean leader.

The 6-metre bronze statue depicts him riding a horse next to his late father, Kim Il-sung, also on horseback.

Irishonly

(3,344 posts)
27. It's a problem around here
Wed Feb 15, 2012, 06:18 PM
Feb 2012

Vacant houses are also broken into and they steal pipes or anything that they can get. Our code enforcement also checks vacant houses to make sure they haven't been vandalized.

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