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Server Time:
2024-05-15 17:48:20
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 Raticus
       
Moderator
Location: Tyler
Gender: Male
Ratus exploricus abandonae
 |  | Copper thieves
< on 2/27/2007 3:59 AM >
|  | | | I've said it a few times before, and I'm more convinced all the time. Copper thieves are going to end up causing UE'ers more grief than noobs ever thought about causing. Especially in smaller areas like mine. But it's going to be a problem every where I'm afraid.
A few days ago, someone broke into one of the old hospitals here in town and did more than $100,000 worth of damage to the building by ripping out copper wire and plumbing. Apparently, they tore the place up really bad. THe hospital was not in bad shape and was even up for sale.
In the past, at least my experience has been that the police rarely paid attention to abandoned buildings. But with all the damage and media coverage that these guys are creating, there's no doubt in my mind that police will start at least looking at buildings that before they would just drive by. I don't know what to do about it, just that I'm starting to get aggravated by it. In our rural area, in the last 2 months, there have been so many copper thief incidents that it is making exploring harder. They even tore apart a signal station on an active rail line, leaving the signals inoperative on a track full of trains.
Anyone else's area getting hit this hard, and are you beginning to have a harder time exploring like I am in my area? Any ideas how explorers could help slow this down? I don't have any idea, but surely someone out there has a helpful idea. For me and my area, it's getting very bad.
Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools speak because they have to say something. |
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SilentSearch
Location: Cowtown
Gender: Male
My rebellion against the santa cursor! HoHoHo
| | Re: Copper Thieves
<Reply # 1 on 2/27/2007 4:09 AM >
| | | | Where I live, the scrappers have invaded and have begun to dismantle some of the more interesting places. Trespassing is one thing but I don't want to be arrested for stealing metal out of some building just because I was inside.
Official UE Safety officer and rescue specialist. |
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Explorer Zero
| |  | Re: Copper Thieves
<Reply # 2 on 2/27/2007 4:28 AM >
| | | | it definitely bringing down more heat no question about it
place me Barry and cn explored had lots of wire and copper pipes we were amazed it hasnt been hit yet
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xmasrc
 
Location: Hobart, Tasmania, Aust
Gender: Male
XmasR
| | Re: Copper thieves
<Reply # 3 on 2/27/2007 4:38 AM >
| | | | I am feeling ya, again in Aust it’s starting to get bad and with all the media behind it and reporting when it happens I can see things are going to start to get hard.
The 5-0 are going to think that everyone that’s in a building that’s not in use it a copper thief, well maybe not that bad but it’s going to look a hell of a lot more dodgy for anyone that does get looked up on by the eye of the police.
I can see the conversation going a little like this….
You: I am just here having a look around and taking a few photos from a artistic point of view.
Cop1: sure you are.
You: I am want to see my portfolio?
Cop2: (insert pistol whip and handcuffing)
Cop1: lets go for a ride.
Not really the best outcome.
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Soldat
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Gender: Male
The Mayor of Noobtown
| |  | Re: Copper thieves
<Reply # 4 on 2/27/2007 4:59 AM >
| | | | I guess all we really can do is be sure to call the police on copper thieves as much as possible. it wont stop it but it will at least make it harder for them and if you can check a site regularly maybe you can keep them away.
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eoghan
Location: dormont pa
Gender: Male
| | Re: Copper thieves
<Reply # 5 on 2/27/2007 5:16 AM >
| | | | well....i think remembering to leave the pipe cutter at home will contribute to your freedom. salvage thieves are usually pretty obvious. it never hurts to act in a reasonable way around cops when you can't avoid them.
eoghan
Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag and begin slitting throats... -H.L. Mencken
dude, if you ever shoot me with a .25, and i find out about it, i'll kick yer ass! |
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Raticus
Moderator
Location: Tyler
Gender: Male
Ratus exploricus abandonae
| | Re: Copper Thieves
<Reply # 6 on 2/27/2007 5:32 AM >
| | | | That's what I'm talking about, I don't want to be arrested or even "suspected" just because I'm in or around a building. It is REALLY getting out of hand around where I live.
2X, like the building you are talking about, most of the ones in my area were pretty much untouched by other explorers, or anyone else for that matter. Now, these guys are totally destroying and shutting down the spots around here where I like to go.
Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools speak because they have to say something. |
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notjohndavid
Gender: Male
| |  | | | Re: Copper thieves
<Reply # 7 on 2/27/2007 5:46 AM >
| | | | I don't know of anything like that going on here. I'd guess it's only a small number of people in your area doing it. Hopefully the police will catch the people and things will calm down.
What makes people do such things, I do not now :-/
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eoghan
Location: dormont pa
Gender: Male
| | Re: Copper thieves
<Reply # 8 on 2/27/2007 5:53 AM >
| | | | at least in my area, up until recently, they waited till demo started and then went at it. i guess it was too much work to dig it out. they waited till the demo crews had it out and then swarmed onto the salvage piles at night.
Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag and begin slitting throats... -H.L. Mencken
dude, if you ever shoot me with a .25, and i find out about it, i'll kick yer ass! |
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Soldat
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Gender: Male
The Mayor of Noobtown
| | | Re: Copper thieves
<Reply # 9 on 2/27/2007 6:16 AM >
| | | | Around here there were no copper thieves up until plans to demo the hospital in a few months, then apparently every copper thieve in the tri-state area gang raped the place.
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KublaKhan
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
With Satan, it's always gimmie, gimmie.
| | Re: Copper thieves
<Reply # 10 on 2/27/2007 6:43 AM >
| | | | Some noob posted an actual question re: how to jack copper/is there a safe way to, etc. in the BC section.
Read Tanuki's response. It's fukken witty.
"The truth is knowable. But probably not, ever, incontrovertible."
--Don DeLillo
PICS |
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eoghan
Location: dormont pa
Gender: Male
| | Re: Copper thieves
<Reply # 11 on 2/27/2007 6:43 AM >
| | | | that sucks, but you could consider it a new challenge for your photo skills, you might consider it sort of like being a ue park ranger. cops love good clear pics with identifiable faces/vehicles/plates. keep in mind that these people are sitting in our collective nest. cops aren't always the enemy. i'm an investigator and used to be a cop, but i've been ueing since the late 70's [back when it was just cool sneaking around] and i admit i avoided other cops when i was exploring and sometimes used my creds to get a pass for me and my buds.
i just think that cooperating with leo's on the copper thieves thing is a really great opportunity to cultivate some goodwill, and maybe some credit with your locals. might be like money in the bank.
if you do manage to help bust them, be sure to get a card from whoever you contact with, keep it in your wallet and don't be afraid to drop names if you get caught. favors are real important to these guys.
make sure to keep your distance from the thieves, they will fuck you if you give em a chance.
Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag and begin slitting throats... -H.L. Mencken
dude, if you ever shoot me with a .25, and i find out about it, i'll kick yer ass! |
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Azubi.UK
Location: UK / KSA
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Copper thieves
<Reply # 13 on 2/27/2007 11:02 AM >
|  | | | Posted by notjohndavid
I don't know of anything like that going on here. I'd guess it's only a small number of people in your area doing it. Hopefully the police will catch the people and things will calm down.
What makes people do such things, I do not now :-/
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Why do people do it? Why else? Profit! They don't go scrapping for the fun of it. They go to make some money.
It happens over here all the time. It's become an expected part of a building's lifecycle.
The 11th Commandment: Don't get caught! |
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Raticus
Moderator
Location: Tyler
Gender: Male
Ratus exploricus abandonae
| | Re: Copper thieves
<Reply # 14 on 2/27/2007 11:54 AM >
| | | | Posted by eoghan
i just think that cooperating with leo's on the copper thieves thing is a really great opportunity to cultivate some goodwill, and maybe some credit with your locals. might be like money in the bank.
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I had that very thought, in fact, that's what prompted me to run this through the group here, see if anyone else had the same thought. I'm leary of it though because of the chance that it could come back to bite us in the ass. I don't know. Just a thought, but I sure wish this would stop because it is going to mess things up for us. If nothing else, they are destroying these buildings. Natural decay can be, well, beautiful. But destruction rarely looks good in a photograph.
It's happening all over the country. If it hasn't started in your area, it will. Texas is considering some legislation that would make it an automatic felony to steal copper, no matter how small the amount. Also considering making scrap dealers collect information from the person selling it, including ID and vehicle information. It's a start.
Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools speak because they have to say something. |
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tribeachpunk
Location: Halifax, NS
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Copper thieves
<Reply # 15 on 2/27/2007 12:34 PM >
| | | | Posted by notjohndavid
I don't know of anything like that going on here. I'd guess it's only a small number of people in your area doing it. Hopefully the police will catch the people and things will calm down.
What makes people do such things, I do not now :-/
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It is happening more and more everywhere... Definitely not isolated.
Halifax UrbEx (Blog) ||| Atlantic Canada Urban Exploration Facebook Group |
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Explorer Zero
| | | Re: Copper Thieves
<Reply # 16 on 2/27/2007 12:37 PM >
| | | | Posted by Raticus
It is REALLY getting out of hand around where I live.
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you mean theres actually electricity out there where you live?
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Explorer Zero
| | | Re: Copper thieves
<Reply # 17 on 2/27/2007 12:56 PM >
| | | | Posted by Raticus
Texas is considering some legislation that would make it an automatic felony to steal copper, no matter how small the amount.
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Texas did something similar with construction materials from construction sites a few years back so technically stealing a bucket of gravel or some 2x4s might net you a jail felony conviction.
Your point is well taken. The result of this widespread activity IS bringing heat to our abandoned environment.
Anyone seen roaming around potential copper harvesting places is now a copper harvesting suspect. The patrols have all been briefed and they are looking for this activity more so now than ever before.
But as noted the source of the crime isnt the building or really the bums, it is the recyclers. Just 2 or 3 blocks from the busy police garage on Canton (see violent raptures pics) is a hole in the wall metal salvage recycler. Ive seen bums pushing shopping carts full of wire, aluminum street signs, even aluminum guard rails with the street department name stenciled on them and the guy buys it no questions asked.
Some of the gold anodized aluminum rings stolen from The Grand Hotel parking garage showed up there too. That brought more heat to The Grand no question about it in fact it caused the owners to wrap the whole 1st and 2nd floor of the garage building in chain link!
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yokes
Location: Toronto
Gender: Male
I aim to misbehave
| | | | Re: Copper thieves
<Reply # 18 on 2/27/2007 12:58 PM >
| | | | When I was in Packard in Detroit back in September, a place LONG stripped of copper and the easily removable steel, the scrappers were there with a backhoe and torches cutting out structural steel for $2.70 a pound.
"Great architecture has only two natural enemies: water and stupid men." - Richard Nickel |
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Raticus
Moderator
Location: Tyler
Gender: Male
Ratus exploricus abandonae
| | Re: Copper Thieves
<Reply # 19 on 2/27/2007 3:07 PM >
| | | | Posted by 2Xplorations
you mean theres actually electricity out there where you live?
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Yeah, as long as we can keep the hampsters turning the damn generators. Can't run the whole street at once though... each house has a designated "Electrification Day". Mine is Thursday.
Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools speak because they have to say something. |
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