[BC] AM Theft Mitigation

Jerry Mathis thebeaver32
Fri Dec 22 18:41:49 CST 2006


Been a long week....the subject line should have been COPPER theft
mitigation.

JM


On 12/22/06, Jerry Mathis <thebeaver32 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> 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?
>
>
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-- 
JM


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