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Home  Materials Theft
Materials theft has become an overwhelming
problem across the country. Its impact on the scrap
recycling industry is significant. Recyclers have
become both the victims of theft and the target for
legislative efforts to solve the theft problem. ISRI
has taken several steps to provide members and
community leaders with helpful resources that they
can use when facing this issue.
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| Partnering to Combat Metal Theft |
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Gary Bush, Director of Material Theft Prevention
and National Law Enforcement Liaison for ISRI,
writes about his own introduction to the problem of
metal theft and the power of partnerships in solving
the problem. He also relates a number of success
stories. "The burden of solving the problem cannot
and should not be placed solely on the recycling
industry," he writes. "Solving the problem will take
effort by all stakeholders: recyclers, law
enforcement, prosecutors, and victims."
View
the article here » (PDF. 144KB.)
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ISRI Introduces ScrapTheftAlert.com
ISRI has introduced the newest tool in the
recycling industry's effort to fight material
theft. ScrapTheftAlert.com is
a new Web-based theft alert system that will allow
law enforcement to alert recyclers of reported
stolen material and allow recyclers to alert area
law enforcement when they have received materials
they believe might have been stolen.
ScrapTheftAlert.com represents
another significant improvement in theft reporting
procedures that have been available through ISRI for
more than two decades. The original system, known as
FaxNet, allowed ISRI to notify recyclers in the
immediate area of a theft via fax. ISRI's Theft
Alert system, developed in 2006 moved the service
from fax to email and sent alerts to a far broader
audience that included all recyclers on ISRI's
contact list in the state where the theft occurred
and to all surrounding states.
See
the full story »
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| Available Resources |
| Do Not Buy Kegs For Scrap
This full-color flier implores scrap recyclers not to accept beer kegs as scrap. "Beer kegs are the property of brewers and beer importers. No one
else should buy or sell kegs for scrap. Accepting kegs is illegal." (202KB PDF) |
| Metals Theft FAQ
ISRI's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) file helps answer questions that scrap recyclers often face when addressing metals theft. |
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| Examples of Scrap Recyclers Fighting Metals Theft |
Group Helps Solve Copper Theft
PHILADELPHIA -- Scott Dale Graves, 37, has been accused of stealing three 25-pound spools of copper valued at $200 from the Flint Energies warehouse in Warner Robins, Ga. He is being held at the Houston County jail in Perry, Ga.
Warner Robins Police credited the Middle Georgia Metal Theft Committee for playing a key role in
leading to the arrest of Graves. The group is an alliance of recyclers, other local businesses and
industries and law enforcement officers whose goal is to reduce metal thefts in the area.
Sanjab Recycling, a South Macon, Ga., recycler and member of the alliance, contacted police about some copper it had purchased and later identified Graves as the seller of the metal. |
| A-1 Recycling Alerts Police to Metal Theft—Arrests Total 50
A-1 Recycling of Hesperia, Calif. recently alerted local law enforcement officials that unique stainless steel materials were being offered for sale by two men. The company's staff recognized the stainless steel materials as being specialized components used by a nearby solar plant, one of the recycling company's customers for years. Local deputies arrived and arrested the two men for stealing the materials, making them the 49th and 50th on-site arrests by the company. The stolen materials were returned to the rightful owner who expressed his gratitude for A-1's efforts. |
| Marietta Recycling Center Receives Law Enforcement Accolades
Scott Cone of the Marietta Recycling Center has received a letter of commendation from the Marietta Police Department for his company's efforts to assist local police with the metal theft problem. Deputy Chief Billy Grogan noted the time that Marietta Recycling Center had spent training officers and detectives about the scrap recycling industry and providing helpful tips on apprehending metal thieves. He also noted that the department looks forward to "strengthening the partnership between Marietta Recycling and the Marietta Police Department so our relationship becomes a model for other communities across the country." |
| Commendation for Utah Metal Works
Utah Metal Works received a commendation from the Salt Lake City Police Department for the scrap dealers' help in gathering surveillance video and transaction records that led to the arrest of two metals thieves. "Your and your employees assistance provided valuable assistance and two arrests were made," the letter of commendation read. |
| | | The Macon–Middle Georgia Metal Theft Committee
The Macon–Middle Georgia Metal Theft Committee is a regional, cooperative group of many entities affected by the problems associated with metal theft crimes in central Georgia, including recyclers, law enforcement, and affected industries. Since the creation of the committee, reported metal theft crimes within the city of Macon fell to only 9 incidents in October 2007 from a peak of 84 incidents in December 2006. |
| Theft Alert Leads to Material Recovery
A wire manufacturer in Colorado reported the theft of wire spools to the Theft Alert system and a cashier at a nearby scrap facility recognized the stolen materials. |
| ISRI Member Stalls Suspected Thief
An ISRI member in the Pacific Northwest tried to stall a suspect by parking a forklift behind a vehicle that was on a watch-list for a recent aluminum theft and pretending the lift had broken down. |
| ISRI Member Info Leads to Arrest
ISRI Member Buckman Iron & Metal provided key information to local police that led to the arrest of a man suspected of stealing $100,000 worth of stainless steel. |
| Police Recognize Sims Metal's Efforts
An employee of Sims Metals in Rancho Cordova, Calif., was recognized by the UC Davis Police Department for reporting stolen University property that came into his facility. |
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| Signage |
| | One effective way to fight theft is for recycling processors to require photo identification for all transactions. Make sure your policy is clear with this colorful sign, which you can have printed to your specifications. Note: The link does not go directly to the file, but to a Web site that will allow its download. Download » | |  |
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