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I'm curious what the process is at the recycling facilities that these people sell the copper to. The place that took the veterans grave markers had to know something was wrong with that. I guess as long as there is an easy market for the thieves that the thefts will continue to be a problem.
A plumber friend of mine had his shop broken into a year or so ago and they took the copper tubing he had stored there. He keeps most of his supply elsewhere but he needs to have some on hand. Many abandoned houses (foreclosed, etc.) have had copper taken from them all over the country.
Been through that too. Contractor I used to work for had his shop door battered in. They got over $5,000 in new & scrap wire & tools/equipment.
Not sure about other cities but scapyards in Durham require ID. I sell scrap copper/aluminum 4 or 5 times a year, usually at the same place but I still have to show an ID.
I'm not sure how much it scares anyone. What likely happens is that the thieves take it to someone nearby who pays them cash, no questions. He builds up a a pile & takes it to the scrapyard, shows ID & gets paid. Or they could use fake ID's.
Scrapyards should have called police when someone showed up with grave markers or flowerpots. Anyone would know they were stolen.
The platinum, palladium, and rhodium, from catalytic converters are other popular targets for thieves. Someone who knows what they are doing can quickly remove a converter from many vehicles via. the undercarriage, without a need to get under the hood. Trucks and SUVs are the most likely targets, since the undercarriage can be reached without jacking up the vehicle.
If you really want to save your air conditioner, air conditioner cages are are the best method [mod]snip[/mod] I'm not saying it is the only way but it is the most cost effective, and the only physical way to protect your ac unit.
Last edited by 7G9C4J2; 04-07-2013 at 08:29 AM..
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Very common if florida. The metal recyclers have requirements for getting info from peopl who bring sny metal in. Like pawn shops. The new laws have helped alot as thieves know that even if they steal they have no where to easily get money for the stuff.
My state has a new law that metal recyclers must record a picture ID from anyone selling metal and they MUST mail the seller a check to pay them for the metal. No cash payments!
So they get an ID, mailing address, and a record of where the check was cashed (which includes more ID and a video tape of the person cashing the check).
So contact your state representatives and have these laws enacted.
My state has a new law that metal recyclers must record a picture ID from anyone selling metal and they MUST mail the seller a check to pay them for the metal. No cash payments!
So they get an ID, mailing address, and a record of where the check was cashed (which includes more ID and a video tape of the person cashing the check).
So contact your state representatives and have these laws enacted.
GA has similar laws. ID required to recycle, and check only if you want payment that day. In some cases, they can, give you cash if you come back to the recycling center after a few days.
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