Posted on 08/05/2008 11:18:59 AM PDT by Renfield
Metal thefts are moving to the railways. Recently there have been several cases where thieves have been taking off with tracks.
"A big piece of metal like that as much as it weighed would bring a pretty good chunk of change," said Officer Shawn Jackson with the Williamsburg Police Department.
Williamsburg police arrested Brenda Harmon, 57, and Carl Moses, 51, of Willamsburg along with Eric Brooks, 21, of Rockholds and Janie Lawson, 52, of Tunnel Hill, Georgia after they say the four stole railway track equipment and tried to sell it. Officer Jackson says an officer was off duty Friday driving in the Wofford Community, when he noticed the four near the tracks.
"He observed them trying to load the rail at first and they couldn't do that, so they hooked a chain to the rail," says Jackson.
Even though it was almost a 20 foot long piece of railing, they managed to drive away while dragging it behind them.
"So he had to get on the phone and by the time he got a hold of us, where we could meet him, they had already made it up the road to the scrap yard," explains Jackson.
The officer tracked the four down at the scrap yard by following the engraved trail left behind in the pavement.
"As you can see it's CSX Railroad property, so it's one thing to even be on the property but it's another thing to be taking the equipment," said Jackson.
He says it is crimes like this one that are becoming all too common.
"Instead of stealing TVs and VCRs, DVD players and stuff like they used to, they're going for this metal because they can take it to the scrap yard and trade it for cash," said Jackson.
Why aren’t the scrapyards being held to account for what they’re buying? Pawn shops are.
That’s a good way to cause a train wreck. Any scrap yard accepting rail should be charged.
I sell copper and aluminum scrapped from job sites. There is a Sheriff Deputy at the local scrap yard next to the cash window. I always let out a sigh of relief when I get to my vehicle with my cash. A second sigh when I pull out of there.
Back in 2001 or so there was a story about thieves in Chechnya stealing 15 miles of railroad rails from one set of tracks.
A recycling yard somewhere in NC got shut down last month for receiving stolen scrap.
Scrap steel is worth about $0.12/lb. Might be more profitable to get a job.
I agree, it seems that a job at McDonalds would be more profitable.
I remember missing manhole covers in Philly...
A half-ton pick up will haul considerably more than a half-ton, I used to regularly haul more than a ton at a time in mine.
Yes it will, but you aren’t supposed to.
It’s rated for a half-ton payload only.
The person loading my pick up with sand told me he had someone come in with a half ton pick up who insisted that his truck bed be filled to the brim, so he did it, blowing the back tires and busting the shocks and springs.
The most I hauled in mine was about 2300 pounds, it was sagging a bit but I didn’t have far to go.
I believe they were going to use the track for their MODEL RAILROAD (a 1:1 scale), not for criminal activities!! :-)
you want those UPSTANDING CITIZENS to get a job?? Surely you JEST!! /s
What is the state doing with that railroad? I know they own that line and the Mountain subdivision (Portland-Freyberg), and I heard people are looking at those lines.
old railroad near Farmington.
Is the the old Waterville, Wisscassett & Farmington RR?
If it was #80 track then it was 80 pounds per linear foot, equaling 1600 pounds. At 12 cents per pound they would only get $192.
A lot of work for just that amount.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.