Copper...it's what's for dinner (for criminals now-a-days)

I appreciate the thread Steve!

Here's what's been going on in Michigan: Our state is having a harder time economic wise than most states. Because of that, many people have moved on to other states leaving vacant homes, and we have a high foreclosure rate right now. Crooks have found a way to profit off of that by stealing copper from vacant homes. Some are even stealing the A/C units outside the house. I talked to a lady who's brother has to cage in his A/C units on his rental homes down in Detroit because if not...they're gone!

I've noticed solicitation is up in my neighborhood (folks scouting to see what homes are vacant, and who is home, what they've got to steal at a later time, and is the garage/car/house secure?). In my jurisdiction it is required by ordinance to have a permit to solicit goods for sale. My neighbor was wondering what was going on with a guy claiming o be from a "gas company" trying to sell his services. Except the thing is...he never made it up to my neighbor's door and tried opening my neighbor's garage door instead. This was in the afternoon on a weekday. My neighbor happen to see the man approach only to stop, and try the handle on the garage door. It was secure, so the "salesman" left.

Businesses are suffering the same problem. They find their pipes missing, but left to a big water mess. I had heard that copper only goes for like 35 cents a pound here in Michigan. Why bother? I guess any little bit huh?

I say we make the institutions that accept copper for melt down and pay out money to folks have paperwork with a name, address, telephone number with an itemized listing of what the person brought in. Kinda like a pawn shop thing where the jewelry store owners or pawn stores have to supply a copy of what was pawned by a person to law enforcement. I also suggest that we request business owners have their business name stamped onto the copper (I know that's hard to do with existing piping or fixtures), but there has to be a way we can tag the stuff to flag the companies receiving copper that it is stolen.

As for copper thieves in neighborhoods...I think it is a matter of releasing a media warning to the community about suspicious solicitors or persons and hope neighbors will help the police keep an eye on things.

It may not seem like a high priority, but if we don't show some aggression towards it, who's to say that your jurisdicition won't get a reputation among crooks that "no body's watching" and start stealing more and bigger stuff? It's an open door that needs to be shut.

Anybody else have a copper problem in their jurisdiction? Have ya'll come up with something to help curb the thefts? Patrol cops...watch cha seeing out there?

RE: Copper Thieves

Well, Rach, despite the lack fo answers, it is obviously a widespread problem. Did you catch this story?

http://www.policemag.com/News/2008/01/30/California-Copper-Theft-Investigation-Leads-to-Arrests-of-140-on-Assorted-Charges.aspx

Last edited @ 1/30/2008 2:18 PM

Copper...and not the law enforcement kind...

Yes...I did Steve. That was a great article and I shared it with some of the other officers.

I knew that copper thieves were probably folks with drug habits, or have some other addiction they are trying to feed because you have to be a real brave idiot to cut down telephone wires and hope to god they aren't live electrical ones for money.

But it was interesting that the cops in California were getting other stuff in like bomb detenators. That's gotta make you wonder. But I am glad the PD did an undercover sting. They have found a lot more problems that needed to be addressed.

I don't know a whole bunch about copper and how thieves process it, but I know a lot more now than I did!

Thanks Steve! :-)

people not playing anymore....

And yes...I do have to agree with you that it has been rather quiet here in the forum. I guess some cops just took their ball and went home...lol.

Maybe they didn't get the memo that people shouldn't be all work and no play...

Don't be shy folks!....... :-)

RE: Copper Thieves

I'm rarely around anymore, as evidenced by the fact I'm responding 6 weeks to late here...I dunno, the old forums just seemed warmer, more friendly. These are cold and unwelcoming <shrug>.

Anyways, I know of cases where copper theives have stolen whole spools of wire from shipyards, industrial locations, construction sites, etc. So it's a prevelant crime. Back before PVC pipe became popular they used break into apartment buildings and swipe all the fixtures. Go figure.

RE: Copper Thieves

Meth freaks are usually the culprits in the copper wire thefts.

RE: Copper Thieves

We had an Albertson's grocery store close down last year and within a few weeks it was the victim of copper wire theft. LASD staked the store out and caught the yahoo in the middle of stripping the closed store of what was left of the wire. Another one bit the dust.

Last edited @ 3/12/2008 2:21 PM

RE: Copper Thieves

Arizona State Senate
Issue Brief
December 12, 2007
Arizona Senate Research Staff, 1700 W. Washington, Phoenix, AZ 85007 • 1-800-352-8404 • 602-926-3171
SCRAP METAL
INTRODUCTION
In recent years, the occurrence of metal theft has increased
across the United States (U.S.) as metal prices have risen. Various
entities, from utility companies and state and local governments to
home builders, agricultural companies and breweries, report being
victims of metal theft. For example, in 2007, Beer Institute, an
organization that represents the beer industry, reported that the
scrapping of kegs costs brewers and importers over $50 million
each year. The Beer Institute also reports that the scrap value of
kegs rose from about $5/keg to over $40/keg over three years.
Although metal theft includes theft of various metals, a large
percentage of that is theft of copper. According to the National
Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), worldwide copper
demand, particularly due to economic growth in the U.S. and
China, has fueled a used resale copper market and plays a
significant role in the sudden increase of copper thefts. As the
demand increased, the price of copper quadrupled from $.80/lb. in
2003, to around $3.60/lb. in 2007.
NCSL also reports that copper thefts are particularly prevalent
in the energy sector because electric utilities are a major consumer
of copper. As a result of copper theft, some areas experience
decreased grid function, power outages and, in 2006, seven people
were known to be electrocuted while trying to steal copper from
generators or substations.
To curtail metal theft, national organizations such as Beer
Institute and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI),
which represents over 1,200 companies that consume scrap
commodities, are attempting to raise public awareness of the issue.
ISRI, with the help of the federal Bureau of Justice Assistance, has
also joined forces with the National Crime Prevention Council and
created the Theft Alert System, which allows law enforcement,
scrap recyclers and victims of theft to electronically notify scrap
metal dealers of stolen materials. Additionally, in 2007,
approximately 15 states, including Arizona, enacted legislation that
places greater requirements on scrap metal dealers and establishes
criminal penalties specific to metal theft.
Note to Reader:
The Senate Research Staff
provides nonpartisan, objective
legislative research, policy
analysis and related assistance
to the members of the Arizona
State Senate. The Research
Briefs series, which includes the
Issue Brief, Background Brief
and Issue Paper, is intended to
introduce a reader to various
legislatively related issues and
provide useful resources to
assist the reader in learning
more on a given topic. Because
of frequent legislative and
executive activity, topics may
undergo frequent changes.
Additionally, nothing in the
Brief should be used to draw
conclusions on the legality of an
issue.
Scrap Metal 2
Arizona Senate Research Staff, 1700 W. Washington, Phoenix, AZ 85007 • 1-800-352-8404 • 602-926-3171
METAL THEFT IN ARIZONA
As in other states, entities in Arizona have
reported a recent increase in metal thefts. In
2006, the City of Phoenix reported 2,983 metal
thefts, as compared with 601 in 2002, which
represents a 396.3% change over a four-year
period. Of the 2,983 metal thefts in 2006, 2,824
were copper thefts. Overall, since 2002, the
number of reported metal thefts in Phoenix has
risen annually. Additionally, the Arizona
Department of Transportation estimates
expenditures of approximately $500,000 for
repairs and new wiring on the state highway
system in the Phoenix metropolitan area during
calendar years 2006 and 2007, as a result of
metal theft.
Sale of Scrap Metal
Arizona has regulated the purchase of scrap
metal since 1968, when the Legislature first
required scrap metal dealers to maintain
transaction records. Since then, the scrap metal
dealer statutes have been amended several times.
In 2007, Arizona enacted legislation creating
additional requirements for scrap metal dealers
and sellers and expanding the aggravated
criminal damage statute to address damage
caused by metal theft. Following is a discussion
of Arizona’s scrap metal and aggravated
criminal damage statutes.
Scrap Metal Dealers
A scrap metal dealer is a person or business
entity, except an automotive recycler, that is
engaged in the business of purchasing, trading,
bartering or receiving secondhand material that
is commonly known as scrap metal. Used
beverage containers are not defined for these
purposes as scrap metal. Statute regulates scrap
metal dealers and prohibits counties, cities and
towns from enacting or enforcing ordinances,
rules or regulations that conflict with the
statutory provisions.
Recordkeeping
For any transaction involving the receipt of
scrap metal that exceeds $25, with specified
exceptions, a dealer must keep a record that
includes the following information: 1) the date,
time and place of the transaction; 2) a
photograph and an identifying description of the
scrap metal received; 3) the dollar amount of the
transaction; 4) the seller’s name, physical
description, physical address, date of birth and
signature; 5) a photocopy of the seller’s current
government issued identification; 6) the seller’s
transaction privilege tax number; 7) the number
and state of issuance of the license plate on the
seller’s vehicle; 8) a photograph, video record or
digital record of the seller; and 9) a right index
fingerprint of the seller. Dealers must retain
these records and make them open for inspection
during regular business hours for two years.
Failure to comply with the recordkeeping
requirements is a class 1 misdemeanor.
Payment for Scrap Metal
As of September 1, 2007, for transactions
involving industrial accounts, copper, aluminum
wire with a diameter of at least 3/8 of an inch
and scrap metal transactions of $300 or more, a
scrap metal dealer may not provide payment on
site at the time of the transaction, but instead
must mail a check or money order to the seller’s
physical address. There are certain exceptions
to this requirement, including if the transaction
is with an industrial account that preregisters
employees as authorized sellers. Scrap metal
dealers must provide a receipt to each seller at
the time of the transaction.
Transaction Reports
Until September 1, 2007, a scrap metal
dealer was required, within 24 hours after
receiving scrap metal for which a record was
required, to deliver a record of the receipt to the
local law enforcement agency, with certain
exceptions. As of September 1, 2007, such
records must be submitted to the Department of
Public Safety and must include: 1) the date, time
and place of the transaction; 2) an identifying
description of the scrap metal received; 3) a
description of the seller; 4) a photocopy of the
seller’s current government issued identification;
and 5) the number and state of issuance of the
license plate of the seller’s vehicle. Failure to
file a report is a class 1 misdemeanor.
Scrap Metal 3
Arizona Senate Research Staff, 1700 W. Washington, Phoenix, AZ 85007 • 1-800-352-8404 • 602-926-3171
A dealer must hold on its business premises
for seven days after filing the report, in the same
size, shape and condition in which the metal was
received, copper, aluminum wire with a
diameter of at least 3/8 of an inch and metal
received in transactions with a value over $100,
with specific exceptions.
Miscellaneous
Statute also restricts the purchase or receipt
of wire that has been burned or had the
insulation removed, as well the removal of
insulation by scrap metal dealers.
Scrap Metal Sellers
Arizona regulates not only the purchase of
scrap metal, but also the sale of scrap metal. As
of September 1, 2007, a scrap metal seller must
be at least 16 years of age. Furthermore, a scrap
metal seller may not conduct a series of
transactions for one vehicle load of scrap metal
in order to avoid the recordkeeping and payment
requirements and may not participate in more
than one cash transaction per day.
Penalties for Metal Theft
Theft
In Arizona, the classification of theft
depends on the value of the property, but varies
from a class 1 misdemeanor for the theft of any
property valued at less than $1,000 to a class 2
felony for the theft of property with a value of
$25,000 or more. However, according to
entities that have been the victims of metal theft,
such as utility and agricultural companies, the
value of the damage caused by metal theft, such
as service interruption and necessary equipment
repairs, is generally greater than the value of the
stolen metals themselves.
Aggravated Criminal Damage
In 2007, the Legislature amended the
aggravated criminal damage statute to address
metal theft. As of May 8, 2007, aggravated
criminal damage also includes intentionally or
recklessly, without the express permission of the
owner, defacing, damaging or tampering with
any utility or agricultural infrastructure or
property, construction site or existing structure
for the purpose of obtaining nonferrous metals.
This form of aggravated criminal damage is: 1) a
class 3 felony if the damage to the property is in
amount of $10,000 or more; 2) a class 4 felony if
the damage to the property is in the amount of
$1,500 or more but less than $10,000; and 3) a
class 5 felony in all other cases.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
• Scrap Metal Dealer Statutes: Arizona
Revised Statutes, Title 44, Chapter 11,
Article 3.1
• Criminal Damage to Property Statutes:
Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 13, Chapter
16
• Arizona Department of Public Safety, Rocky
Mountain Information Network
2828 North Central, 11th Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85004
(602)351-2320, ext. 3
http://rmin.rissinfo.com/HTML/Metal_Theft
.htm
• Beer Institute
http://www.beerinstitute.org/index.asp
• Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries
http://www.isri.org//AM/Template.cfm?Sect
ion=Home1
• National Conference of State Legislatures
Copper Theft Page
http://www.ncsl.org/programs/energy/Coppe
rTheftpage.htm

RE: Copper Thieves

Copper Thefts Are Costing Us
Skip directly to the full story.
Authorities say copper, such as at this scrap-metal yard in Gibsonton, is hard to trace to a source, making it attractive to scavengers.

ROBERT BURKE / Tribune

By KEITH MORELLI The Tampa Tribune

Published: Jul 12, 2007

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TAMPA - Copper, the not-so-rare precious metal that as pennies slips forever between couch cushions, is a hot commodity on the black market these days.

In the quest for scrap metal that can be sold for attractive prices, authorities say, thieves knocked out air conditioners for classrooms near Tampa, caused traffic tie-ups at railroad crossings in Plant City and disabled streetlights over bridges in Charlotte County.

Metal prices are high because there is a shortage overseas and unscrupulous entrepreneurs will do what it takes to supply that demand - including stealing the stuff.

Thieves sawed the bronze arms off a statue of soccer champ Pele in Brazil and turned off electricity to a hospital in Santo Domingo. TV ads in Haiti implore viewers to "stop cutting down wires."

Copper is the most tempting metal, analysts say, because it fetches the most cash per pound.

The recent arrests of two Tampa brothers who authorities said specialized in the dismantling of air-conditioning units to get to copper and aluminum coils illustrate the problem.

They are accused of snatching wiring and tubing from units to sell at scrap-metal yards.

Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies said the money the scrap copper and aluminum fetched was a fraction of the cost of damage caused by the extraction process.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage was done to the rooftop units, including many at public schools, business parks and office buildings.

At McDonald Elementary School in Seffner, 10 rooftop units were hit, resulting in $55,000 in damage. At just one business complex east of Tampa, 18 air-conditioning units were damaged to the tune of $150,000.

Deputies named two suspects in the crime spree: Joe Bailey, 32, 1016 E. Seward St., Apt. A, and his 33-year-old brother, Howard, 1606 E. Waters Ave. Each was charged with multiple counts of grand theft and felony criminal mischief.

Operation Hot Wire
Others also seek the copper grail.

In Brandon this year, 126 suspected copper thieves were rounded up by sheriff's deputies, ending a three-month investigation dubbed Operation Hot Wire.

The investigation targeted thieves and those who knowingly bought and sold stolen copper. The thieves targeted businesses and utilities, churches, railroads and homes.

In 2006, victims reported $3million worth of copper thefts in Tampa and unincorporated Hillsborough, deputies said, and that doesn't include the costs to replace wire or repair damage.

The 126 arrests were tied to 25 tons of stolen copper, but investigators think some companies didn't report copper thefts, authorities said.

On Jan. 15, thieves made off with $5,000 worth of copper tubing from a Town 'N Country distributor in a nighttime burglary that damaged the rear wall of a warehouse owned by Coastline Distributing of Tampa.

Thieves pulled a rear metal wall away from the structure's frame on Anderson Road to get access to the materials inside. They stole several 100-foot spools of copper tubing.

Nothing else was taken, deputies said.

In Citrus Park recently, Darrell Scott Parsons, a 20-year-old homeless man, was charged with grand theft and burglary after neighbors said they saw him load copper, aluminum and other scrap metals into a pickup and haul them from the backyard of a resident.

The property was valued at $3,100, but deputies said Parsons told them he sold it as scrap metal for $40.

Difficult To Track
Last year, thefts of copper wiring used for operation of railroad crossing barriers in downtown Plant City caused traffic backups because trains had to stop and let off employees who halted traffic while the train lumbered past.

Deputies often are filing theft reports of copper tubing, wires or pipes from construction sites.

Sheriff's Sgt. Dorothy Flair said thefts of copper, particularly from unsecured construction sites where wire and plumbing are delivered and often sit unattended for several days, are a constant problem.

"Copper, at some recycling companies, can sell for $3.95 a pound," she said. "Copper is such a popular thing for people to steal and recycle; the reason being it's difficult to track."

Authorities in Charlotte County investigated the theft in May of 21,000 feet of copper wire from light poles on two bridges there. The wire was worth about $11,000, officials said, speculating it would have taken a team of three thieves about three to four hours to get inside the poles and steal the wire.

Recyclers Keep Records
Scrap metal and recycling yards are required to maintain records of who is bringing in scrap copper, and they must grant access to sheriff's detectives who occasionally inspect those records, she said.

"Most of the yards are playing by the rules," Flair said, "But the yards don't know if the scrap copper is stolen or not. If they do suspect something, they do call."

She said the theft of copper and aluminum is a common crime.

"We fight this problem every single day, and we make numerous arrests," she said. It's prevalent because "it's easy to steal and sell," she said. "We are continuously looking for ways to combat it."

Larry Nash, owner of Patriot Metals in Gibsonton, said he is constantly watching for thieves trying to peddle stolen scrap metal, particularly copper and aluminum. If someone comes in with a box full of new copper wire or tubing, that's a red flag, he said, and the deal is turned down.

"It's a hard thing," he said. "We don't know. A guy was in here [last month] with a box of new copper, and we wouldn't buy it. But if someone comes in here with 80 pounds of copper and it's damaged, we just don't know.

"We try to do the best we can," he said.

In years past, people would come in, dump their load of scrap metal and then go to the cashier's window for reimbursement, only then showing their identification. Nash said nowadays, customers must show identification before they can unload their scrap.

Customers also must bring their scrap in a registered vehicle. Identification and registration numbers are recorded, he said, and if anything looks suspicious, authorities are called.

Only about 10 percent to 15 percent of his business is copper, he said. Aluminum is a greater percentage and is brought in by commercial accounts or by homeowners, mostly in the form of cans or torn down porches or carports, he said.

From his yard, the metal is baled and shipped to recyclers.

Catalytic Converter Thefts
Patriot Metals, which has 25 employees and has been operating for about 30 years, recycles an average of 27 loads, 40,000 pounds each, of scrap metal a month, he said.

What he pays for scrap metal depends on the worldwide metal market, "and that changes by the minute," he said, although he adjusts his price about once a week.

Payouts for copper are about $2.80 a pound, but the price has been as high as $3 or more a pound, he said.

Thieves' interest in scrap metals goes beyond copper and aluminum, and they are resourceful in mining the most unusual sources.

This year, law enforcement agencies across the nation noticed a rash of catalytic converter thefts.

Why? The antipollution devices attached to the underside of vehicles contain small amounts of platinum, rhodium and palladium. The value of these precious metals has risen sharply, making catalytic converters hot property.

Scrap-metal yards, authorities said, pay $30 to $150 for catalytic converters.

Researcher Buddy Jaudon contributed to this report. Information from The Associated Press was also used. Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at kmorelli@tampatrib.com or (813) 865-1504.

RE: Copper Thieves

CTV Toronto

Sun. Jan. 7 2007 11:32 PM ET

Thief electrocuted trying to steal copper wire

Canadian Press

MONTREAL — A would-be thief is dead after breaking into a Hydro-Quebec tower to steal valuable copper wire.

The man in his 40s was electrocuted when he cut the electrical wires atop the tower in the north end of Montreal.

According to city police, such thefts are becoming commonplace with the soaring price of scrap metal, including copper.

Across the country in the past year, there have been reports of manhole covers torn out, aluminum siding ripped off homes and aging church roofs stripped for scrap.

In one case in Ontario, a bronze statue of a Ukrainian poet was chopped off at the feet and carted off to be sold for scrap.

Electrical wires have been a popular target for scrap metal thieves and there have been many deaths reported in the U.S.

The wires carry up to 13,000 volts, which can kill instantly upon contact.

Last edited @ 3/12/2008 2:37 PM