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completely off topic of daffodils, but, theft of scrap metal

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Just couldn’t help but respond to the thread about scrap metal theft.  This has been a major problem in the state of GA for some time.  I live in middle GA in a very rural, agricultural area.  Rural churches have had their copper lines ripped out that run between the outside LP gas tank and the church.  AC condenser units are ripped out to get any copper or other valuable metals out of the equipment.  Many business locations now have their outside AC equipment and other such things, housed in chain link “cages” in an attempt to slow down scrap metal thieves.  Cemeteries are routinely attacked for any metal on markers and urns.  New laws were passed to beef up penalties, and the statewide scrap metal recycling industry, professes to be doing their best to not take any questionable metals, and more.  Law enforcement and the courts are coming down very hard on those caught stealing scrap metal.  Sting operations have been conducted at scrap metal recycling businesses.  This relatively new crime problem is apparently the result of three things, the high value of the scrap metal, the economic conditions, and low life people.  My tax dollars are being spent on the criminal justice end of the problem, so despite not being directly affected…  it does impact me.  People like me, that live in sparsely populated rural areas, are asked to keep a sharp eye out for vehicles parked behind churches and cemeteries at night, etc. 

 

Jaydee Atkins Ager

Executive Director

American Daffodil Society, Inc.

www.daffodilusa.org  www.daffodilusastore.org  www.daffseek.org

PO Box 522

Hawkinsville, GA  31036  USA

 

6 comments for “completely off topic of daffodils, but, theft of scrap metal”

  1. Scrap metal started going up dramatically when China started going outside its borders to buy up scrap.  The market for scrap is so strong that whole houses have been stripped and in some areas houses for sale need to be accompanied by photos before closing to document what was actually purchased.  One house was totally stripped inside to the point that when the realtor opened the door the next day, he almost fell into the basement since even the wood flooring had been taken.  As you said, anything left unattended will have its metal stripped.  I knew one man in Oregon who just about killed himself burning the wrapping off wires to get to the copper!

     

    Colleen NE Calif.

     

     


  2. Scrap metal started going up dramatically when China started going outside its borders to buy up scrap.  The market for scrap is so strong that whole houses have been stripped and in some areas houses for sale need to be accompanied by photos before closing to document what was actually purchased.  One house was totally stripped inside to the point that when the realtor opened the door the next day, he almost fell into the basement since even the wood flooring had been taken.  As you said, anything left unattended will have its metal stripped.  I knew one man in Oregon who just about killed himself burning the wrapping off wires to get to the copper!

     

    Colleen NE Calif.

     

     



  3. The good side of this is that those of us with rural properties and junk metals can get a nice little bonus for our clean up efforts.  As with many old farms, I have a ravine which obviously served as the farm dump from fifty to a hundred and fifty years ago or so.  All the trash is either metal or glass and the metal prices make it more than worthwhile to take a load to the scrap yard every so often.  I’ve even started keeping a paper grocery sack in the house for collecting cans and the odd nail to go along with the larger items.  I’m sure the yield from the sack is in the range of a couple pennies, but it makes me feel quite frugal!
    To date I’ve taken things as diverse as rusty wagon wheel straps, bits of a Model A Ford and old rolls of barbed wire out of there.
    The real bonus comes in finding a good sized piece of copper or brass, and surprizingly, aluminum in bulk.  A portion of a fallen down barn had aluminum roofing panels which paid off well.  Aluminum cans are so light, I don’t think many of us think about the value of this metal in quantity.
    Drew Mc Farland
    Granville, Ohio


  4. And leaves you so much more time for tending your daffodils!!!  The bright side to the dark cloud :)

     

    Colleen

     

     


  5. Oh my goodness!  People around here would rather buy what you have to use than have to take it for scrap!!!  You might try e-bay too.  What you describe is in high demand – like those roof shingles, wagon wheel straps -sigh.  Those car parts are in demand for restoration or as models for molds for replacement parts.

     

    Colleen

     

     


  6. Believe me, if it were anything worth saving, I would have.  Just rusty bits of junk.  I identified the Model A only via the design of an entirely crushed gas tank.  None of the body remained, bit of frame — in some cases having had a living tree grow around them, and I’ve yet to find an engine or any other identifiable motor parts.
    In a message dated 21-Sep-10 11:51:31 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, title= writes:

    Oh my goodness!  People around here would rather buy what you have to use than have to take it for scrap!!!  You might try e-bay too.  What you describe is in high demand – like those roof shingles, wagon wheel straps -sigh.  Those car parts are in demand for restoration or as models for molds for replacement parts.

     

    Colleen

     

     


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