Stick `em up, copper!

July 31, 2007 12:32 PM

Overnight, thieves stole the copper coolant pipes for the cold rooms at Indiana's largest food bank, resulting in $500,000 in food spoilage. Metal theft is on the rise throughout the developed world. Demand is rapidly increasing from countries such as China and India, resulting in a 300% increase in cost since 2003. It's not limited to copper, however. Governments are taking steps to curb the illicit trade.
posted by jeversol (6 comments total)

Metal theft is on the rise throughout the developed world.

That's what I've heard. Mostly on MetaFilter, this website I visit.
posted by Pollomacho at 12:43 PM on July 31, 2007

So why was my car only worth $100 in scrap value, then?
posted by darksasami at 12:44 PM on July 31, 2007

Bubs, no!
posted by cowbellemoo at 12:47 PM on July 31, 2007

Didn't we just talk about copper theft?

Anyway. I grew up in Indianapolis. When my parents divorced, my dad moved into a grubby studio apartment in a pretty run-down part of town. The building had a parking lot, but no security.

One morning he got up to go to work and his car wouldn't start. Quick investigation revealed his battery was missing. My dad called up his brother-in-law and had to ask for a ride to Sears and a loan for a new batter. Humiliating, I'm sure, my uncle was every bit the elementary school principal both on and off the clock, and I'm sure he gave my dad a ration of shit about all the events that led up to him living in a crappy neighborhood.

So, the battery got replaced, my dad probably missed work that day, but his car was running again.

The next morning, he got up to go to work and his car wouldn't start. Quick investigation revealed ... his battery was missing. The first battery wasn't the point - it was really a scam for the thieves to get a brand new battery. Nice. So my father has to further prostrate himself in front of Uncle Dick (that was his name, you know) to get yet another new battery. After that, he brought the battery in every night.

My dad loves to tell stories (over and over), but this is one of my favorites.

Anyway, I hope the food bank puts better security on the coolant pipes when they get them replaced.
posted by These Premises Are Alarmed at 12:51 PM on July 31, 2007

I'm getting that deja vu feeling all over again.
posted by craven_morhead at 12:52 PM on July 31, 2007

When I lived in Philadelphia, this was a big problem in my neighborhood, which featured older houses with copper rain gutters and downspouts. Apparently it was common to be awoken from sleep by scavenger-theives unscrewing them from the brackets on the sides of the houses. I thought it was one of the most bizarre things I had ever heard of.
posted by Miko at 12:56 PM on July 31, 2007