Beware of Metal thieves

[warpedskydiver 0]

A cyclist passes sprinklers at Washington Park in Denver, April 14, 2006. The rising cost of copper...
Metal Thieves Likely to Turn to Aluminum
Tuesday, June 6, 2006 3:28 AM EDT
The Associated Press
By ROBERT WELLER

DENVER (AP) — Thieves have been stealing copper for years as prices have risen, mostly an expensive nuisance. Now they are targeting aluminum products, with experts saying safety is at risk as everything from light poles to highway guard rails are disappearing.

"Aluminum prices are at an 18-year high," said Chuck Carr, vice president of member services for the Institute for Scrap Recycling Industries.

Thieves in April made off with $4,000 worth of aluminum bleachers — enough seating for 100 people — from P.C. Campana Park in Lorain, Ohio.

Highway guardrails and light rails have been stolen for years on the East Coast but "now it's everywhere. It's worldwide," said Matt Haslett, spokesman for Metro Metals Northwest of Portland, Ore.

Officers are even staging metals theft stings. In Westminster, a Denver suburb, officers took aluminum park benches to a salvage company, where two employees allegedly paid $33.65 for 58 pounds of the metal. The Benson and Benson Metals Co., pleaded guilty to theft by receiving and will pay $500 to a food bank.

Strong demand from Asia, especially China, is driving the metals market, said Robin Adams of CRU Strategies in Seattle. He contends the mining industry was caught by surprise by demand and can't keep up with supplies of basic metals.

The trend is likely to continue for a couple of years, Adams said. Other metals would be stolen, too, but it isn't practical.

"Aluminum and copper are the ones that stand out. They are on highways," Adams said.

In the past year, copper water spouts have been taken off churches. Coils of communication wires. Power cables for trolleys. Raw copper from the Navy at Pearl Harbor. Authorities attribute at least five deaths to thieves being electrocuted. Railroads have sent out warnings about thefts of spikes, communication equipment and track.

In Idaho, some of the thefts have been linked to methamphetamine users. In San Joaquin County, Calif., nearly $300,000 in metals thefts have been reported this year alone.

"We are going to make periodic checks of our junk and recycling dealers to make sure they are keeping records of who they buy the copper or aluminum from," sheriff's spokesman Les Garcia said.

Carr's institute and its members are taking their own steps to control the thefts. He said many dealers work with police to set up stings.

"A lot of our people are having to hire security guards because people are breaking in," he said.

Haslett's company, meanwhile, is videotaping all its purchases.

"We stall sellers of stolen material and call police. If it is moderately suspicious we will ask the seller to provide some documentation," he said.

[AggieDave 6]

Seriously old news.

Copper is the HOT item. Plumber's trucks/vans and construction sites (wire and plumbing) are really hot spots as well.

Aluminum is still selling and being stolen, but nothing like Copper.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[warpedskydiver 0]

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Seriously old news.

Copper is the HOT item. Plumber's trucks/vans and construction sites (wire and plumbing) are really hot spots as well.

Aluminum is still selling and being stolen, but nothing like Copper.

I know that, but it has increased dramatically

[AggieDave 6]

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I know that, but it has increased dramatically

Sort of, it didn't just spike, its been going up steadily over the past year. It also helps that due to the increase, those who would commit theft have started to notice that they can make their money that way. Copper theft has been an annoying problem nationally for atleast 12 months.

Now I understand that its a big problem for those in the construction business as well as other industries that use large amount of copper fittings or wire or other pieces.

If people would secure their material at construction sites better, that would help. If people would demand that their lawmakers require a valid ID and that its properly documented as well as a good description of the kinds of items sold. Although documentation is required in many instances, its not in all. Also, the recyclers aren't marking the type of items sold. Even new wire still in the box, they're taking it and giving money for it.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[PhreeZone 20]

Copper prices in consumer products is getting shocking. I bought a roll of wire to do some electrical work around the house in the fall for $58, same roll this weekend was on sale at a home improvement store for $108. $50 mark up in about 6 months. I wish my paycheck woulds climb as fast as that price increase did.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[StreetScooby 5]

It's happening for all metals, and commodities in general. There is a debate going on in the Wall Street Journal whether this is due to flat out inflation (the US govt has been printing money for a while now), or China/India demand, or both.

We are all engines of karma

[Andy9o8 2]

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Also, the recyclers aren't marking the type of items sold. Even new wire still in the box, they're taking it and giving money for it.

And therein lies a good deal of the problem. The recyclers know darn well that a goodly portion of the stuff they get in is hot; they just don't care. So as long as they're willing fences for these stolen goods, the goods will continue to get stolen. Some states have tight regulation over pawn shops for this reason - maybe similar regulation of recyclers is in order?

[AggieDave 6]

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Some states have tight regulation over pawn shops for this reason - maybe similar regulation of recyclers is in order?

I can see that happening. That's why I said contact your local representatives.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[LouDiamond 1]

Believe it or not, its not limited to copper. In Colombia they have a huge issues with the nomadic gypsy families who also happen to be one of the major groups of people who recycle, stealing cast iron man hole covers right off of the street. The theft of the man hole covers has actualy resulted in several deaths across the country but particularly in Bogota. In an effort to reduce the probability of more deaths, the government of Colombia has started to use a high strength blue plastic composite material worth nothing in the recycling business to make man hole covers.

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
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[JohnRich 4]

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It's happening for all metals, and commodities in general. There is a debate going on in the Wall Street Journal whether this is due to flat out inflation, or China/India demand, or both.

It is also said that it now actually costs more for the U.S. Mint to make a penny, then the monetary value of the penny itself. Thus, they're losing money on every penny they make, and most of those just end up people's penny jars in their homes, and don't get circulated much.

[jumpinfarmer 0]

I am going to be able to pay for most of my jumps this year with all the old junk machinery we have been cutting up around the farm.

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[b1jercat 0]

You don't have a clue. It;s old news.

blues

Jerry