[BC] AM Theft Mitigation

[Jerry Mathis]

You know, it seems to me there's a solution to the copper theft problem.

1. Have people that bring in scrap copper produce some verifiable 
identification.
2. License scrap dealers to take in copper, and as part of the 
licensing, have some training to look for obvious theft (such as 
large quantities of #10 bare copper wire with dirt clinging to it, 
large lengths/quantities of coaxial cable, and large quantities of 
new-looking copper pipe/tubing and romex cable). There can't be that 
much of these items thrown away on a daily basis, so if someone is 
bringing it in regularly, there's a good chance it's stolen.
3. License people to be copper scrap sellers. If it's your legitimate 
business to collect and sell copper scrap to dealers, then getting a 
license should be a small problem. This process can be used to weed 
out criminals, druggies, and gangs.
4. Before a scrap dealer can buy scrap copper, he must verify the 
source of the copper, as to location it came from, and its owner.
5. Require that all scrap dealers that take in copper should be 
notified of thefts within, say, a 300 mile radius of their location. 
Thieves aren't going to drive further than that to dispose of their 
wares; it would cost more than what they'd get for the copper.
6. Have stiff penalties for people convicted of copper theft, beyond 
just petty larceny and theft. A few people sentenced to 30 years or 
so for this would surely make others think twice or three times.
7. For those convicted, make them pay restitution. That'll keep them 
poor for a LONG time.

There are probably other ideas that would work. Since copper is 
becoming a valuable resource, I think we should take pains to protect 
our investments.

JM



On 12/22/06, Rob Atkinson 
<<mailto:ranchorobbo at hotmail.com>ranchorobbo at hotmail.com> wrote:

 > Ron Nott suggests copperweld because it's not worth anything to the
 > copper thieves.

yes but this assumes the guy pulling up the wire knows something  about
copper wire.  I would bet he's no good at distinguishing the difference
between the moon and the sun and worse at eyeballing no. 10 bare copperweld
and knowing it's not no. 10 solid.   especially if they're out there at
night.  this is why i'm a bit nervous about my heliax runs.  the stuff
really doesn't have much copper.  the shield is thin enough to peel with
pliars.  the center is cladded aluminum.  but a thief might think it's the
mother lode.  of course the scrap dealer will probably set him straight but
by then the damage is done.  you think he's gonna come back and apologize?