Well, if the stolen copper is still usable as wire, someone may buy it (knowingly illegally), at less than market, but at more than scrap value.
That’s my attempt at decoding.
But I do not understand the scrap dealers claiming that they cannot tell ‘scrap’ from stolen. Bronze off of graves? Heads off of statues? These scrap dealers make their money by KNOWING their materials, and markets.
Thanks for the help.
I think the original poster might be exaggerating a bit. Scrap price on basic house wiring is over half the retail price in my area. Years ago buying wire was like buying lobster, price changed almost daily.