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Posted By: Jim M Another copper theft. - 06/29/08 01:28 AM
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2008/06_28-17/TOP

Will the legal system make people pay for the replacement costs as well as damages? I can only hope.
Posted By: gfretwell Re: Another copper theft. - 06/29/08 01:51 AM
I really do not understand why theft is such a minor offense. The only real deterrent is the chance of getting shot by the owner. The SCOTUS has just reinforced that option somewhat. (Heller v DC)
Posted By: TOOL_5150 Re: Another copper theft. - 06/29/08 02:59 AM
Copper is only worth $1.20 here, $2.50 for bare copper wire.

~Matt
Posted By: EV607797 Re: Another copper theft. - 06/29/08 08:46 PM
I think in this case, as in many others, it is cost of the damage done that really matters. OK, so the copper was only worth $4,800.00 That's a far cry from the quarter-million+ in damages caused as a result.

What is really starting to get bad is the theft of gasoline around here. No more simple siphoning; they are poking holes in peoples' gas tanks and draining them from underneath. One recent theft involved a store employee bypassing the authorization wiring in a pump and inviting his friends/families over for a free fillup. They caught him, but only after he got away with $50K in gasoline. Then, we have had at least three instances of entire tank trucks full of fuel being stolen around here.

It almost makes those siphoning thefts back in the 1970's look humorous, almost silly. Nothing is safe from theft anymore, absolutely nothing.
Posted By: sparkyinak Re: Another copper theft. - 06/29/08 08:52 PM
I think we are in the wrong business smile
Posted By: renosteinke Re: Another copper theft. - 06/29/08 09:59 PM
FWIW, by cutting into active AC lines, it's almost certain that the thieves can be prosecuted for releasing Freon into the air ... and the EPA has some pretty hefty penalties for that. Plus, our thieves may have inadvertently helped hasten the replacement of obsolete gear with the latest whiz-bang stuff.

Though that detail is of little comfort to the victims. Can anyone say "inside job?"
Posted By: judsin Re: Another copper theft. - 06/30/08 02:11 AM
The mechanical contractor with the winning bid to fix this mess is the guy who makes out the best.
Posted By: EV607797 Re: Another copper theft. - 06/30/08 03:00 AM
Reno:

That area is frequented by mindless thugs from the eastern suburbs of DC or from Baltimore. I seriously doubt that it was an inside job. These people rob and shoot each other daily. I'm pretty sure that they were just driving down the road and came up with an idea to pick up some drug money and a couple of 40's while they were at it. I seriously doubt that this project was carefully planned other than using a tubing cutter to keep their activity quiet.
Posted By: SolarPowered Re: Another copper theft. - 06/30/08 05:14 AM
I think we need to increase lead recycling. wink
Posted By: M_Grabill Re: Another copper theft. - 07/01/08 12:20 AM
We recently had one of our residents attempt to steal the AC Lineset from her apartment. Fortunately they did not get much of it and it was repairable. The best part was I charged her $500 for the repair on her move out damages and she wanted to argue. Not that they had done the damage, but the $$ figure. I told her that if she felt that it was too high, I could call in the police and have her arrested for theft instead. She shut up and paid the bill.
Posted By: mbhydro Re: Another copper theft. - 07/01/08 02:17 AM
I was talking to a friend of mine on the local police force and their new regional station under construction was hit for wire a few days ago. The GC is now posting security until the building is complete and turned over to the city.

Posted By: renosteinke Re: Another copper theft. - 08/13/08 01:53 PM
Like "Star Wars," this saga continues .....

The first part is bad news ... Reno got hit last weekend by a thief who systematically stripped the wire from several athletic fields and parking loots.

The second part isn't so much 'good news,' as a tragedy.
Last spring, a young man stole an ATM machine. Following the trail left as he dragged the machine away with his truck, police entered a garage. Not only did they find the thief; they found several huge rolls of wire, each marked as coming from a different contractor. They also arrested a young man who was ONE MONTH away from completing the local apprenticeship program.
Now Junior is out from his very brief prison stay - am I the only one who thinks this is a scandal in itself - and Junior had the gall to approach the local trade association, and ask to complete / graduate from the program. He actually noted that he had NOT been accused of taking anything from his employer! Still, he had his hours in, so he can obtain a city Journeyman card.
Card in hand, he is now approaching local EC's, claiming to have completed the program. He has so far not found any takers. Reno is a small town.

(I wonder what he was doing last weekend?)

Junior seems completely unable to recognize that he did anything wrong - or that folks just might hold his actions against him. Just the sort that, I'm sure, everyone wants on their jobsite. At any rate, he seems completely unable to accept that, well, he's going to have to limit himself to unloading trucks for a while. Or digging ditches. There are just too many folks wanting a chance, folks who haven't spoiled their first chance.

It's also quite possible that Junior will try to open shop as a trunk-slammer (unlicensed contractor). Will he carry his ethics over into contracting? Probably.

An idle thought: As regular readers know, I just received my contractors license. It will be interesting to track Junior's success, and mine, over the next few years. Does the unlicensed guy really have an advantage, not having all those overhead expenses? Time will tell.
Posted By: gfretwell Re: Another copper theft. - 08/13/08 05:39 PM
Skills being equal, the unlicensed guy will make a lot more money than the licensed guy every time. All it takes is a little word of mouth advertising and the fact that the unlicensed guy usually works for cash. Not only does he skip all of that pesky business overhead, he usually doesn't pay taxes.

If you really want to bust these guys, I would start with the IRS. They seem a lot more interested in the little guy than the state contractors board.
Posted By: HotLine1 Re: Another copper theft. - 08/14/08 01:18 AM
Reno:

Congratulations on the contractors license. (First I read that, sorry if it's late)

I have an article from the NJ DCA regarding the 'handyman-unlicensed' hacks. I'll scan it first chance and try to get it to you & Greg.

Greg's solution (IRS) sounds tempting. You have state tax guys in Nev.? They can be a major annoyance for guys like that too.

Posted By: 32VAC Re: Another copper theft. - 08/14/08 06:00 AM
Campaign launched to stop copper theft
August 14, 2008 02:44pm
Article from: AAP


GOVERNMENTS and electricity providers have launched a national campaign to catch copper thieves, following millions of dollars of losses.

The surging demand for copper in China and India has pushed the price of scrap copper to $8000 per tonne in Australia, leading to widespread theft, particularly from electricity, telecommunications and rail networks in NSW, Victoria, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.

Federal Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus said the problem was also being experienced overseas, in countries such as the United Kingdom and South Africa, because world copper prices had more than doubled since 2004.

"We're asking for the public's help because, as well as the cost to business, it's the public who are affected by disruptions to services when people steal copper in this manner," Mr Debus said.

In May this year, thieves stole 4.2 kilometres of power lines after cutting down 16 power poles in the Blue Mountains of NSW.

Mr Debus said customs officers were working with Victorian police on an investigation that had uncovered 30 tonnes of stolen copper, valued at $3 million, bound for Asia's black market.

The new campaign, supported by state governments as well as the Commonwealth, will feature national television advertising, signage and stickers.

Mr Debus said the money trail of copper thieves could be followed without making it a legal requirement for copper trading to use credit transactions.

"There are arrangements through the organisation Austrac to follow money trails once you know what the money is being used for," he said.

"I don't think we need legislation. We just need authorities to pay attention and in particular we need the public to help the police identify theft at the time when it's actually taking place."

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24180305-29277,00.html
Posted By: SolarPowered Re: Another copper theft. - 08/14/08 08:01 AM
Something appears to be wrong with their math. 30 tonnes * $8000/tonne = $240,000, not $3 million.
Posted By: HotLine1 Re: Another copper theft. - 08/27/08 12:42 AM
Two recent theft issues that are kept out of the paper.

Vacant whse bldg, realtor goes to show bldg; no lights. Realtor calls owner, owner calls EC. EC finds 'no-power' & traces back to main switchgear. (Everything appears to be untouched) OPened up gear, found service conductors GONE. Went to pad mount xfr (2500KVA) found secondary side lock cut and set-up to appear untouched.

2500 amp, 277/480 service GONE, and the theif supposedly did it hot, Estimated replacement cost <$85000.00


Second:
Ex employee of closed plant still has key for access. Opens OH door, drives his PU truck inside & closes door. Ties rope to pieces of conduit & xfr, ties other end to truck. DRives forward, feeder shorts, arcs & sparks & FA activated. Genius panics, realizes door don't open without power. Drives to & thru another OH door & OFF THE Loading dock. Dualie is hurt real bad; genius decides to walk home. PD picked him up; POCO killed service & removed their xfr,; leaving 8 sets of 500's sticking up at the pad. (Probably be gone tommorrow)

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