brantmacga
Señor Member
- Location
- Georgia
- Occupation
- Former Child
Combating copper thieves; serial # on wire. . .
- Thread starter brantmacga
- Start date
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macmikeman
Senior Member
- Location
- Planet macmikeman
It is interesting, but it itn't enough to get the cops to leave Dunkin Donuts to catch the thief... This would be the appropriate spot to let the world know what I really think of inspectors who toss 90.4 around just because they can get away with it right???
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
ConEd has used a similar method for years. If you remove the center strand on larger conductors it contains lettering, something like "Property of Consolidated Edison". No getting around that when you bring it to the scrap yard.
ceb58
Senior Member
- Location
- Raeford, NC
Last Saturday morning around 6:00am my power went out for about 5 min. Around 8:00 my wife and I were going out to breakfast when we passed a sub station about a mile from our house. There were sheriffs deputies and poco trucks at the sub station. I told my wife I bet some one was in there stealing copper. Sure enough that night on the news " Man killed while stealing copper wire from a sub station". The guy had climbed up about 10 ft on a steel platform that holds 3 LARGE transformers and attempted to cut the feed wire coming from the main distribution line to the transformer. It's a shame to leave a legacy of "I was an idiot"
hillbilly1
Senior Member
- Location
- North Georgia mountains
- Occupation
- Owner/electrical contractor
A few years ago in Omaha, NE I heard a story on the radio that workers had found a 300K volt substation line cut and a pair of melted bolt cutters nearby. Reporter said police were checking local hospital burn units in hopes of finding the culprit.
Supply house guy also told me of a contractor customer of his who found guys with stolen uniforms stealing wire from the floor below them while they were wiring a new apartment building.
Both of those were several years ago, I don't hear much about this around here anymore. Isn't the price of scrap copper way down from what it was a few years ago?
Supply house guy also told me of a contractor customer of his who found guys with stolen uniforms stealing wire from the floor below them while they were wiring a new apartment building.
Both of those were several years ago, I don't hear much about this around here anymore. Isn't the price of scrap copper way down from what it was a few years ago?
I could post pix of several 'crispy critters', but I'm sure the mods would delete them.
DaveTap
Senior Member
- Location
- Currently Flowery Branch, GA
Doesn't help if they melt it down...
- Location
- Massachusetts
I could post pix of several 'crispy critters', but I'm sure the mods would delete them.
The purpose of those would be what? He did not ask for any, so I guess it is for shock value.
You are right they would be deleted.
If anyone wants to see Ken's pictures I am sure he would respond to PMs?
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
True, but the scrap yards are on notice that if they get caught with some illegal scrap they could be in trouble. Makes then think twice before accepting some stolen wire and also proves that it was stolen.
ceb58
Senior Member
- Location
- Raeford, NC
The scrap yard I sell my scrap to has become very proactive in slowing down thieves bringing in stolen copper. When you take the scrap to the copper shed you must show your divers license, your name and address is put into the computer along with the weight. Then you go to the cash office where you show your id again and they take you photo. If the amount owed is over $100.00 they pay by check only. They also have stopped taking any type coil that is from a A/C unit or air handler.
I know that these steps are to help cover them but if the thieves do not have a place to sell the scrap it may help slow them down some.
Some places will mail you the check. That way, you'll need to give a valid address if you want paid.
stevenje
Senior Member
- Location
- Yachats Oregon
What a great idea!
DaveTap
Senior Member
- Location
- Currently Flowery Branch, GA
Great... so now we can't recycle A/C coils...
I could post pix of several 'crispy critters', but I'm sure the mods would delete them.
I have seen some of those pics and agree fully that they should not appear here....they would make anyone quite ill and are too graphic.
The people who really need to see them are the copper thieves and I doubt they read this forum anyways.
(Check out the bold)
LOL so that means a vast majority of us couldn't cash in at your scrapyard. :grin:
A great idea though, and I like the idea that 480 posted of mailing the check.
When I worked for an EC here in So Cal all scraps had to be brought back to the shop, no exceptions. The boss would eventually turn in the scrap and host a BBQ party for us.
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
In Washington the metal yards make a copy of your drivers license and mail you the check in two weeks.
krisinjersey
Senior Member
- Location
- Hackettstown, New Jersey
Scrap yards
Scrap yards
Both scrap yards here give you a barcoded keychain tag. They take all your information and ask where the scrap is coming from. It all gets reported to the state and you get a letter requesting the sales tax. Thanks New Jersey.
I have a friend who had a guy he had fired ordering feeder cuts from the supply house everyday for a week. They'd show up with the cut on a parallel spool and pick up yesterdays empty one. 5 days, 5separate cuts of parallel 500mcm with neutral and ground 350' each. On the last day the sales rep called to ask where to send some t-shirts and to thank the owner for the order without making him bid on the job. Owner asks "What wire?"! The idiot employee couldn't leave well enough alone and tries again on Monday. The supply house sends the cut with a new driver who happens to be a state trooper. The old employee gets popped, the scrap yards got some trouble and the friend of mine tightened up his PO policy real fast. For years we just called up the shop and gave the girl the info on the job and ordered our parts from the supply house. Leaves you open to a huge loss that way, and a heck of a lesson learned.
Scrap yards
Both scrap yards here give you a barcoded keychain tag. They take all your information and ask where the scrap is coming from. It all gets reported to the state and you get a letter requesting the sales tax. Thanks New Jersey.
I have a friend who had a guy he had fired ordering feeder cuts from the supply house everyday for a week. They'd show up with the cut on a parallel spool and pick up yesterdays empty one. 5 days, 5separate cuts of parallel 500mcm with neutral and ground 350' each. On the last day the sales rep called to ask where to send some t-shirts and to thank the owner for the order without making him bid on the job. Owner asks "What wire?"! The idiot employee couldn't leave well enough alone and tries again on Monday. The supply house sends the cut with a new driver who happens to be a state trooper. The old employee gets popped, the scrap yards got some trouble and the friend of mine tightened up his PO policy real fast. For years we just called up the shop and gave the girl the info on the job and ordered our parts from the supply house. Leaves you open to a huge loss that way, and a heck of a lesson learned.
Sales tax wasn't paid when the material was originally purchased?
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