On a continuing story on post by electur, we caught an electricians apprentice in cahoots with the skip operater on a 26 story building stealing the copper from the plumbers, fitters and electicians.
The were as bold as brass loading copper pipe from 10 and 20ft lengths of 1/2" to 5" copper and reels of branch wiring (#12 and up) onto the skip. Their claim to anyone that asked was they had to do cleanup after hours because the general didn't want to slow the job down by having the skip used for claanup during the day.
Another group got caught stealing all the lead covered 15KV cable removed from a large farm implement manufacturing company. The cops had a stake out at the scrap yard and called the electricians company to verify the legality of the sale to the scrap dealer.
We had another group try to steal the Stainless Steel antennae ground plane used for 3 "Texas Towers" transmitters of a local radio station. (tons of stainless installed by one of my friends who was a hard hat diver).
And to wrap it all up, another group of uglies found out the grounding conductor for an older radio station was copper. They got a row boat and were able to grapple it, pull it to the surface and cut it into 4ft lengths. It got pretty heavy in the little row boat.
As for large air breakers etc. I find that a
A number of independent breaker and switchboard refurbishing installed switchboards rarely get asked where they acquired the breaker that just got the complex back on-line after a major failure....
I think its more difficult trying to resell something like a 3000 amp network protector or some such device because they are unique and brand name. Eaaaasy movers are soft starters and newer technology that no-one will ever see again. Mind you if someone tries to get warranty on a unit questions could/should be asked, BUT.............
Cheers.......
doug........et al
