From CarbonCredits.com:
https://carboncredits.com/why-copper-prices-are-surging-and-what-to-expect/
[EXCERPT]
The surge in copper demand is driven by its pivotal role in renewable energy generation, electric vehicles, and grid infrastructure crucial for achieving net zero emissions. Market dynamics and global supply concerns have propelled copper prices upward, with top companies witnessing significant growth.
[END EXCERPT]
This tells me that that copper mines can’t even extract enough copper to keep up with the artificial demand to meet the needs of the “net zero” transition industry—no wonder thieves are stripping electric equipment like piranhas.
The other day when picking up my son I saw a neighboring garage open and on the ground was half-a-dozen inch-diameter copper cables about 4-6 feet long. In hindsight, what I’d expect to see if someone went to a Tesla charging station, cut, and walked away with the cables.
The junk dealers that accept this stolen metal should be held liable along with the perps. Get a small security camera and install it yourself. They work great, I have them all over.
How about passing a law making it illegal to sell surplus copper or catalytic converters with being registered with the proper authorities under penalty of having your business seized?
Stealing copper should earn someone some lead to go with it.
And no 1099.
Maybe Trump will forgive the taxes on the thieve’s earnings.
My mom had an attempted theft of one of her HVAC units. The dropped it on the lawn so they must’ve gotten spooked
The copper thefts are driven by meth heads. And they have been doing this for at least ten years or more. We bought a foreclosed flip house about 10 years ago. By the time we got the deal closed, the AC unit was cut off from the house and stolen.
I saw a recent article about thieves cutting the power cables off of EV Charging stations.