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Submitted by itainttheheat on Thu, 2008-08-28 12:24.
With the increase in metal theft, why o why are the police not at the point of payment, recycle centers or whatever they are called. They ( The Police ) could ask for proof of ownership for the metal being cashed in. I would imagine that either the bussiness would drop off, and alot of arrest could be made including the people buying stolen goods.
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So what your saying is their needs to be a cop at every scrap metal yard all the time in case someone comes there to sell stolen metal?
Should thre be one at every pawn shop in case people come to sell stolen tv's and computers?
Where does it stop?
I don't think there is anything wrong with asking for assistance from the recycling centers, but it might turn out like pawn shops where they just get rid of it quicker when they find out that it's stolen... I don't know... Are they still stealing the cat converters off the cars and the copper from the AC's those are both pretty bold. Is they got caught stealing stuff like that, what's the penalty??? If it's really harsh, they might not be above hurting someone who tried to stop them...
I didn't say they should not investigate. Of course it seems logical to go check where the stolen goods might be taken, but what our new friend "itainttheheat" seems to be proposing is that there's a cop at every scrap yard in case someone comes to sell stolen scrap metal. That just doesn't make sense.
Just pass a law [state, county, city, whatever] which states that scrap metal dealers need to record purchases in excess of $20 or more than 5 purchases from the same person within preceding 30 days exceeding $25. You record the person's name, and state issued ID, DL, ID Card, whatever and description of the metal dropped off.
The scrap yard dealer can refuse to comply, but they are liable for the full damage to someone's property including labor for repairs, if they are caught with stolen property purchased without proper ID.
This was we can id the thieves. Theoretically. A simply log book recording purchases and a description. The shady dealers will still get away with what they are doing now, but at least there is a record of the transactions, maybe.
If you can't fence the stuff, and can't sell it, then it will not be stolen any longer. I just do not see the interstate trafficking of stolen metal - except over a state border than 10 miles away like GA. Stuff weighs too much to be trucked anywhere to make an illegal profit.
Are more laws really the answer?
On the scope of the law and the problem to be addressed. The scrap metal dealers can solve the metal theft problem themselves by taking a little person responsibility and making an effort to make sure they are not buying stolen property. There HAVE to be some hints, as in first time guy showing up with high profit items, repeated coming back with similar items and not having any reason for having the metal. 'Finding it' on the side of the road is no longer a good reason for having metal.... if people are not willing to be honest, then they get regulated.