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Thieves in California are now stealing fire hydrants and everyone is asking the exact same question that you're asking
NotTheBee.com ^ | 6-4-2024 | Jesse James

Posted on 06/04/2024 12:20:09 PM PDT by servo1969

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To: servo1969

My guess is that the hydrants are being stolen for installation elsewhere in the US or OTHER third world countries. Scrap value might be $6, but depending on the type and size, new hydrants cost $500 to $1250. Some cleanup and spray paint, and voila.


41 posted on 06/04/2024 1:40:17 PM PDT by Chewbarkah
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To: scrabblehack

Maybe the perps shut off the water first so they wouldn’t get soaked. This sounds like an isolated prank at one intersection. That’s too much work for the money one could get. There are still cars, bikes and people carrying purses, etc. around.


42 posted on 06/04/2024 1:40:30 PM PDT by SaxxonWoods (Are you ready for Black Lives MAGA? It's coming.)
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To: Governor Dinwiddie

If I paint my trash can copper color, and set it on the curb, how quickly will it get emptied?

Oh, probably trash dumped there, and can stolen.


43 posted on 06/04/2024 1:48:48 PM PDT by Scrambler Bob (Running Rampant, and not endorsing nonsense; My pronoun is EXIT.)
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To: ConservativeMind; All

All thieves should be shot.


44 posted on 06/04/2024 2:11:29 PM PDT by Cobra64 (Common sense isn’t common anymore)
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To: sonova
"If a guy is stealing $6 worth of scrap, a $10k fine may
not be the solution. A year of hard labor might be better.."

That's a start. The best solution is the Singapore one ---
caning! And then servitude of sort; like a year in a
real work camp. And your caning will be recorded
and made public for anyone who wishes to view it.

Public humiliation can be a great deterrent.

45 posted on 06/04/2024 2:18:01 PM PDT by StormEye
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To: sonova

The fine would only go against the scrap yard. When scrap yards no longer buy catalytic converters and hydrants, the market would collapse. The thief on the other hand would be subject to whatever that locality demands.


46 posted on 06/04/2024 2:22:45 PM PDT by BipolarBob (If at first you don't succeed then skydiving is not for you.)
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To: BipolarBob

There is no water in the hydrants until the valve is opened, otherwise how could you hook firehose to a hydrant with the water pouring out?


47 posted on 06/04/2024 2:34:01 PM PDT by Colt1851Navy (What was wrong with Nixon?)
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To: BipolarBob

I Would expect this is a precursor to arson and insurance claims.


48 posted on 06/04/2024 2:37:02 PM PDT by uranium penguin
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To: servo1969

“South Los Angeles”

Formerly South Central - barrio - Watts....area Maxine Waters represents even tho’ she doesn’t live there.


49 posted on 06/04/2024 2:38:15 PM PDT by Thank You Rush
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To: scrabblehack
The 5 sided nut on a hydrant is attached to a rod that extends to a valve underground. For cold weather hydrants, that connecting rod can be as much as 10 to 15 feet long, to prevent freezing. That a hydrant can be broken off by a car and instantly turn into a fountain, while a Hollywood trope, is just not so.

In passing, if a sprinkler head is set off, that is the only one that sprays. Not every sprinkler in the room, building or town. Another Hollywood lie.

50 posted on 06/04/2024 2:48:15 PM PDT by jonascord (First rule of the Dunning-Kruger Club is that you do not know you are in the Dunning-Kruger club.)
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To: servo1969
Just a thought. Like cat converters, which are stolen in the US, shipped to China in CONEX boxes, recycled there and then sold as new in the US, why not fire hydrants?

Remember, these are the same people who used explosives to destroy the Prince of Wales and Repulse, off the coast of Malaya, and salvaged the scrap with magnets. (Pre WW2 steel is non-radioactive and is more valuable for certain uses.)

51 posted on 06/04/2024 3:00:46 PM PDT by jonascord (First rule of the Dunning-Kruger Club is that you do not know you are in the Dunning-Kruger club.)
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To: Scrambler Bob
#43: "Oh, probably trash dumped there, and can stolen."

Bingo!

52 posted on 06/04/2024 3:10:32 PM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie (LORD, grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil.)
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To: uranium penguin

“We don’t know how it happened, but if the hydrants hadn’t been stolen....”
Plausible deniability after we figured out the blue roofs.

“Don’t know where they got the material for the bombs, but thankfully 9 of 10 were alphabets....”


53 posted on 06/04/2024 4:07:00 PM PDT by pops88 ( Helping usher the glory of God into Las Vegas)
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To: Vermont Lt

Maybe they have a lot of dogs.


54 posted on 06/04/2024 4:22:45 PM PDT by pas
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To: Robert A Cook PE

Who knew?


55 posted on 06/04/2024 4:47:17 PM PDT by Liz (This then is how we should pray: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name . )
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To: Obadiah

I would imagine, it takes a lot of work to steal that thing. The screws are usually rusted and painted, so they are stuck. You need a truck and couple of guys to load it.
And with the present day price of gasoline, it may not even pay for the gas!


56 posted on 06/04/2024 5:03:01 PM PDT by AZJeep
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To: servo1969

so what’s in a fire hydrant? brass/ bronze/ and - valves. What use are valves? grow operations maybe? export for irrigation? dunno
https://firefighternow.com/fire-hydrant/


57 posted on 06/04/2024 11:38:16 PM PDT by blueplum ("...this moment is your moment: it belongs to you... " President Donald J. Trump, Jan 20, 2017) )
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To: ConservativeMind

My question is why these thieves weren’t shot.
________________________________
Because it’s not a capital offense.


58 posted on 06/05/2024 12:50:43 AM PDT by AirForceVet1988 ("As the pattern gets more intricate and subtle, being swept along is no longer enough.")
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