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With the price for scrap metal rising, thieves are turning their attention to just about anything – even cast-iron storm grates, galvanized guard rails and aluminum light poles along state roads.
Not a week goes by that police don’t investigate thefts of scrap metal, usually copper, but just about anything goes. Last week, about $25,000 of junk steel was stolen from a wooded area near Frankford.
Every week, area homes that are vacant or under construction are broken into and stripped of copper tubing or copper wiring.
Sgt. Bernard Miller, commander of the Property Crimes Unit at Delaware State Police Troop 4, said the increase in scrap metal crimes began about two years ago when police started to see a jump in the theft of abandoned vehicles for scrap as the price for scrap metal started to climb. “As the economy got worse, it expanded to other metals,” he said.
Misty Seemans, Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) spokeswoman, said over the past few weeks more than 70, 200-pound storm grates, including nine in Sussex County, have been stolen.
She said on one day, there were 20 missing in New Castle County. “That got our attention,” she said. “This is the first time ever we have had storm grates missing.”
She said it costs nearly $650 to replace a grate. In addition, the large hole left by the absence of the grates creates a safety hazard, Seemans said. So far, the thieves have cost DelDOT more than $50,000.
She said the grates cost from $130 to $325, but are worth only about $14 in scrap metal.
She said most reputable scrap dealers would not accept items such as storm grates and guard rails, unless they had been cut up and were mixed in with other scrap metal.
“In response to these problems, staff has begun to attach storm grates that are more difficult to remove,” she said, and more grates have been ordered to replenish the stock.
“The replacement has become a top priority,” Seemans said. “We are responding within 10 minutes of a call.”
But storm grates are not the only state property stolen for scrap metal. Also being removed are guardrails and light poles.
Seemans said guardrail pieces cost from $260 to $2,900. A 30-foot aluminum light pole costs more than $700, and $250 more in labor to replace.
DelDOT officials and police are taking the theft of state property seriously. Seemans said local scrap yards have been notified, and last week two dealers contacted police alerting them that they refused to accept grates.
Seemans said cases have been turned over to the Department of Justice for prosecution. “But there has not been an arrest yet,” she said.
New regulations enacted
New regulations are in place for scrap dealers, pawnbrokers and secondhand dealers.
In addition to regulations enacted last year by the General Assembly, Gov. Ruth Ann Minner signed Senate Bill 236 on April 25 adding an 18-day mandatory holding period before scrap copper can be resold by scrap dealers.
Copper was not included in the original regulations. In addition, the fine for noncompliance with the regulations was increased from $5,000 to $10,000.
Williams said the 18-day holding period could hurt scrap dealers because the price of copper can change daily – now it becomes a gamble on where the price will be. She said they normally turn scrap around within five days.
“It’s not fair because the price can drop tomorrow and we are screwed,” she said. “It can drop two or three times in 18 days.”
Until now, there were no specific state laws pertaining to exchanges of scrap metal and pawned materials.
“It has presented many challenges for law enforcement and victims of crimes to recover stolen property that may have been brought to these businesses by criminals,” said Sgt. Josh Bushweller, state police spokesman.
Crime hits everywhere
Cpl. Wes Barnett, state police spokesman, said the problem has spread as thieves have moved from construction sites to farms and irrigation systems to vacant homes to steal copper and other metals.
Last week in Sussex County, four scrap metal thefts were reported, including one estimated at $25,000 from the Frankford area of junk metal from a wooded area.
Copper was stolen from the outside of a home on Cedar Grove Road near Lewes and someone entered a Beaver Dam Road rental unit in Lewes and stole copper from the heater, washer, dishwasher and dryer. In Millsboro, someone cut wiring from two homes under construction. Similar cases are commonplace.
Miller said the thefts are bad enough, but the damage caused to homes can range from $5,000 to $10,000.
“The copper wire is getting the highest price right now and it seems to be more plentiful. Thieves are getting pretty innovative,” Miller said.
He’s seen thieves remove copper tubing under houses connecting air conditioning units.
Barnett said many factors have come together to create a perfect-storm scenario. “There is high demand, it’s fast cash, we are in a recession and it’s a crime of opportunity,” he said. “Many of the areas where the crimes occur are remote with no lighting.”
Working with police
Wilma “Sam” Williams, office manager for Donovan’s Salvage Works Inc. in Georgetown, said local scrap yard dealers are working with police to find thieves.
“The media makes it look like scrap yards are not doing anything,” she said. “We are not crooks.”
She said her office has helped make several arrests over the past few months. Miller said local scrap metal dealers cooperate with police.
“However, they are in business and it’s not their job to be police officers,” he said. “Their job is to get identification and keep records.”
Miller said members of his unit routinely check scrap yard records. “We are always looking for trends and seeing if the same names come up over and over. That raises a red flag,” he said.
Williams said scrap yard dealers walk a fine line. “We can’t accuse everyone who walks in here of being a thief, but there are plenty of them out there,” she said.
If someone brings in a large load of copper, that raises a red flag. Donovan’s questions anyone with scrap metal loads over 50 pounds.
When someone brings in material the first time, they are required to provide a driver’s license.
The license is copied and kept on file. Photos are taken of people who bring in scrap cars.
“We are doing everything possible to head off these thieves,” Williams said.
She said if they suspect scrap metal is stolen they will not accept it. “We ask where it came from, try to get a name and get a license tag number,” she said.
She said they also call police.
“And we do not buy storm grates,” she added.
She said most of their scrap is sold to dealers in larger cities that export it to countries like China where demand is skyrocketing.
She said the biggest problem currently is theft of copper because the price is so high. But most of the large copper thieves are not coming to local scrap yards because they know they risk getting arrested.
“They are going to other areas where they know they won’t get caught and they are also splitting it up,” she said.
She said one person or a small group is coordinating most of the area thefts.
“And there are a lot of crackheads out there who will do anything for money,” she said.
Miller said scrap metal dealers are learning to protect their businesses by asking more questions. If they purchase stolen metal, and it becomes part of a police investigation, it could be confiscated and returned to the owner. The scrap metal dealer is not reimbursed for the loss.
“They are helping us to keep it legit,” Miller said.
Ironically, Williams said the largest increase in their business over the past few months has not been copper, but scrap steel. She said farmers are cleaning out their barns and fields of old equipment and recycling it for cash because of the price of No. 1 steel is up.
Contact Ron MacArthur at ronm@capegazette.com
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