Metal Theives rival "elitist politicians"

Omaha World Herald ^ | Dec 13 2007 | Abe Winter

[PizzaDriver]

"Copper thieves hit Omaha's police/fire training center being built"... "Not even public-safety buildings are immune from thieves in search of copper.

The building that will house Omaha’s police and fire training center, under construction at Rainwood Road and Nebraska Highway 133, was victimized... Thieves stole copper piping and fittings, a saw and a core-drill machine worth more than $5,000.

The building is next door to the National Guard Readiness Center."

[PizzaDriver]

When will some candidate for Federal Office realize that America's metal thieves think they are Above the Law? When will one of the Parties make this an issue? When will the broadcast media notice Metal Thefts?

In the early 20th century, federal laws forced Pawn Shops to change their way of business and stop funding thieves.

Isn't it time for a Presidential Candidate to demand even better Citizenship from all our "scrap yards"?

[July 4th]

My parents live in a sleepy suburb that hardly has any crime at all. But there are a few new subdivisions, and copper theft has become common place at the new construction. The last theft was worth over $50,000, as not only was wiring and piping stolen, but the labor and materials had to be paid for a second time plus replacement of all of the stuff that was damaged by the theives.

[ConservativeMind]

I wonder if most of it is done by illegals, making it politically incorrect to pursue.

[Whitebread]

you crazy.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Well, we don’t know that any specific theft is done by illegals, but some (a good proportion) certainly are.

After all, who benefits?

The (illegal/criminal) person who steals it from a new built house.
The recycling center (who likely employs illegals) who buys the stolen copper and resells it.
The (largely illegal construction electricians and rough plumber) workers who have to install the copper wires and pipes again in the home where they were installed the first time.
The (largely illegal) carpenters and drywallers and painters who get paid twice for the same house ....

[delacoert]

Yes. Keeps me up sometimes wondering... when, oh when, will the USA be free of metal thieves.

[delacoert]

Waskely the metal thief and his accomplice TinViking

[rockrr]

Agreed.

The reason thieves are stealing it is because someone is buying it (and profiting from the theft) no questions asked. It shouldn’t be too hard to set up a sting or two and invoke the same sort of forfeiture laws that they use against drug dealers.

Here in Washington state thieves ripped out several thousand feet of copper wire from the median of Interstate 90, in full view of the state patrol!

[Clemenza]

Must EVERY thread be about “il-LAY-gul” immigration?

[Domangart]

Just repeat over and over: contractors are thieves, contractors are thieves. There now you can get your house built and when they ask you where their equipment was that they left at the job site two Weeks ago was just recall...

As to the copper. It is being replaced by plastic pipe in the roof units. Recall that it is the small business sector that is suffering the loss. The enemy of the rat is the small business therefore nothing really happens until the developer who funds the rat tells them what to do.

[Whitebread]

Hey, whats that white stuff under your chin strap?

[delacoert]

looks like.... grey hair AAHHHHHH

[Stonewall Jackson]

TinViking looks like he is about to “go Viking” on Waskely.

[Whitebread]

your kitty looks pissed. Havnt you heard about (redacted)

[sig226]

The local cops busted a gang that was stealing the rails for repairs on the Tri Rail (local commuter RR.) They staked it out after the contractor reported several thefts.