Thieves allegedly tunnel into W. Mass. wind farm, steal copper wire

[avaistheone1]

Source: Boston.com

Six Massachusetts residents are facing charges after they allegedly tunneled under a fence at a wind turbine farm in Western Massachusetts and stole $38,000 worth of copper wire.

The suspects stole the wire from the facility in Florida, Mass., State Police said.

The investigation found that the suspects tried to sell the stolen wire to local scrap metal yards, State Police said in a statement.

Some of the suspects were arrested Nov. 12, others Nov. 15, State Police said.

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2013/11/22/thieves-allegedly-tunnel-into-wind-farm-steal-copper-wire/H0bYDdfrhGJTaQ2VOBav2N/story.html

[ForgoTheConsequence]

1. Didn't know this was a big deal in the NE.

In the midwest it's an epidemic. People stealing brass parts off public toilets, cutting catalytic converters off cars, etc.

[Posteritatis]

7. It's pretty much a big deal everywhere now. (nt)

[mahatmakanejeeves]

19. I read about this in the WaPo this morning.

Anne Arundel County Police arrest four suspects in copper theft that caused power outage
http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/for_the_record/anne-arundel-county-police-arrest-four-suspects-in-copper-theft/article_fd90919e-811b-515b-9b1f-86818580df0f.html

By BRIAN HENLEY [e-mail] CapitalGazette.com

Four suspects were arrested Friday morning after police say the copper wiring they stole from a utility pole caused some 1,800 homes and businesses to lose power in Odenton.

Jason Nelson Tomlinson, 29, of Clinton; Jim Brown Nichols, 32, of Odenton; Michael Joseph Spenard, 24, of Suitland; and Melissa Ann Howell, 27, of Waldorf, have been charged with theft and destruction of property, police said.
....

The chief said at his previous job at the Prince George’s County police department, police had a squad devoted to thefts of precious metals and he is considering a move in that direction here in Anne Arundel.

Davis also voiced his opinion that laws need to be strengthened so that metals taken to scrap yards are more easily identifiable and able to be connected to suspects.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Others might see these citizens as "entrepreneurs." n/t

[BlueJazz]

3. I keep wondering why charges are not brought against the Dealers.

This kind of stuff is rampant in Florida....and NO dealers are being prosecuted.

Ex: Guys come in scrap yard with 800 pounds of copper from air conditioners (and the copper is bright and new) and they're driving a piece-of-shit car. Dealers give them money with no questions asked.

Cops come and scrap dealers say: "Gosh, we didn't know they stole it.
Yeah...right you sons-a-bitches...you didn't know...

Thieve go right back to homes and steal air-conditioner parts....(Go to start of this post)

[groundloop]

5. Those dealers are probably breaking no laws....

Many states have started to require that sellers present photo ID and a record be kept of what they sold to make it easier to track theft, but not all states have done that yet.

Edit to add: Yes, I know that it's frustrating as hell, as my step son had a large amount of metal stolen from a house he's refurbishing. Unless someone is clearly breaking the law they won't be prosecuted (as it should be).

[sendero]

6. In TX..

... you will be IDed and logged if you take ANYTHING to the metal scrap yard. I think it depends on where you are, many states have stringent laws to make it impossible to legally fence this stuff.

On another note, this is a stark reminder of how desperate many people are, desperate to just eat.

[rickyhall]

11. Same in Arkansas

Last time I sold cans I got IDed, registered & thumbprinted. And dealers do get busted for receiving stolen goods.

[Blue_Tires]

8. +1

[Warpy]

4. The woman next door to me moved out last month

and while her car is there from time to time while she gets the place presentable enough to sell, it's absent enough that thieves have spotted it as an empty house.

She just told me the place was flooded because they pulled copper pipes out fo the wall.

I hate metal thieves. One of their worst around here was stripping the copper out of a railroad signal. Fortunately, no one was hurt because it was discovered quickly.

Scrap yards need to be a hell of a lot more careful instead of just taking anything from anyone.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

18. My mother in law's neighbors park a car in her drive when she is gone.

She does the same favor.

[Earth_First]

9. My brother in law works for a scrap processor...

They call law enforcement twice a day on average when they feel that a scrap may be suspicious, generally they are correct.

Many of these thieves bring in brand new standard length metal, pipe and automotive parts. Rather than taking the time to cut it down into 'short' which is worth more anyhow, they bring metals in trying for a quick dollar.

According to my BIL, it's fairly obvious to spot. His employer doesn't screw around. What they'll do is send them to a specific loading dock, send a loader or trailer to stop in front of that dock and call law enforcement.

Unfortunately, this is a sign of the times.

My other brother in law is a pipefitter and says he turns guys away asking for scrap daily.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

17. I was in a Home Depot a couple weeks ago looking for copper plumbing fittings.

The associate apologized for the lack of stock items because they just had their entire new shipment swiped out of the bins. By a woman with a baby in a stroller (per the security video).

[Plucketeer]

10. I hate ALL this metal theft....

...but if there were just some half-ass decent paying jobs..... This is just ONE MORE symptom of Republican inhibitors to stimulus spending AND the goddamned NAFTA, CAFTA and the looming SHAFTA (TPP) that are Dem "enhancements" to suit their corporate suitors!

[Theyletmeeatcake2]

12. I agree with you.

A lot of crime that is just plain annoying is a result of people needing the money desperately...give them a living wage that gives them dignity...dig deep you billionaires out there before you lose it all...

[NickB79]

13. Does Joe Biden have an alibi for that night?

http://www.theonion.com/articles/biden-scores-800-feet-of-copper-wire,31013/

WASHINGTON—Calling it a “major-ass haul” that would provide “some much-needed scratch,” Vice President Joe Biden reportedly scored over 800 feet of copper wire from a foreclosed home in the D.C. suburbs, White House sources confirmed Thursday.

Biden, who is admittedly “flat fucking broke” from throwing numerous “ragin’ keggers” over the last nine months, recently devised the plan to strip copper wiring around the Washington, D.C. area after hearing that there was a thriving black market for the ductile metal.

“There’s tons of dough in copper wire if you’ve got the know-how,” the vice president was overheard telling a White House official, explaining that he learned the hard way that swiping manhole covers wasn’t worth the hassle. “As Lady Luck always says, moving copper ain’t easy. But if you play the metal game right, you’re looking at something like a two- to three-grand payday for a night’s worth of work.”

[Titonwan]

14. Obviously the tea party need funds in the northeast.

After all, they believe in 'free' enterprise, right? Right?
Ain't it strange that the sun and political parties change polarities. Now the "republicans" are tryin' to say they are a party of LINCOLN fer chrissakes.

There isn't one TeaBag that don't have at least one 'Democrat' as a grand dad/son/cousin/both in their family one root tree.

[eilen]

15. Thieves stealing copper wire and pipe

are just plain thieves. I don't believe in making excuses about a poor economy etc. There are jobs around here--they are not great jobs, it is hard work, but they would rather try and make a quick buck by stealing it.

They steal manhole covers for cripe's sake.

If you are interested in working with pipe so much apply to the pipe fitter's union and sit down for an entrance exam for an apprenticeship. BOCES (local trade school) has classes every year for HVAC too. Learn to repair furnaces instead of dismantle them. Everyone needs heat in the winter and AC in the summer and their units need maintenance and installation. It's pretty steady work with double time on holidays and weekends.

[Fastcars]

16. Louisiana I.D.s sellers as well

We built a lot of aluminum panels for the movie Snitch at the shop I work at and took them to get bent and cut and the metal shop left them outside for us to pick up but didn't bother to call and tell us. Of course someone helped themselves to it and sold it as scrap. Unfortunately for the two women that sold it they don't figure what to charge you with by the price your receive but on the value of hte parts. They got charged with felony theft of over $2500 for a load of "scrap" that netted them less than $150.

[Archae]

20. Tweakers (meth addicts) are notorious for stealing metal.

Quick bucks.

[DiverDave]

21. In Wa. it's maple trees.

tweakers steal pickups and go in at night to log the "music maple", some sort of maple wood that they use to make musical instruments.
They have cut down huge trees, then sell the rounds.
Course the guy that buys the most in the area doesnt know if they are stolen or not, but he has tons of it.
I read it in the Seattle PI awhile ago.
Basically to get more drugs.