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Success Stories: Examples of Scrap Recyclers Fighting Materials Theft

We hear too many stories of materials theft. There are, however, many success stories, stories of recovered materials and of arrests. ISRI collects and shares its success stories here to show an industry committed to combating the problem.

Stolen Machinery Turns Up At Recycling Plant

(Houston, Video at Click2houston.com)

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.

"A stellar embodiment of scrap metal theft prevention currently exists in Georgia, where a committed group of stakeholders have actually taken the above strategies a step further, and created their own multi-faceted organization to monitor scrap metal theft and prosecute scrap metal thieves to the full extent of the law."
(The National Crime Prevention Council)

In Streetsboro, Ohio ...We are VERY HAPPY with the response that we received from local scrap dealers, ESPECIALLY YOURS, re: the theft of our bronze. Our material was apparently stolen in the early hours of Sunday...I contacted five local scrap dealers about the theft. The fifth dealer told me to contact you (ISRI) as you send out theft information over the web. I sent you the information you asked re: a description and pictures of the material.  You forwarded it to numerous dealers over a wide area. By Thursday afternoon, the material was reported received by a scrap dealer in Erie, Pa. Your system WORKS!  Thank you so much for all your help.

 In Holland, Mich.