In article ,
wrote:
On Mon, 26 Sep 2011 16:49:24 -0700, "Bob F"
wrote:

David Combs wrote:
We read how in Iraq, early on after the invasion, they
were tearing down power-lines for the valuable copper
they'd then sell.

Seems to be happening here too.

Someone stole one of the three 2-story+attic copper
downspouts. Questions:

1: Any way to protect the other two (aside from sitting
outside all night (loaded for bear?)?

Get in touch with local metal recycling companies and ask them to watch
for your
spout.

As for LOCAL, 100 mile radius would be better - these jerks are often
out-of-town grab and run guys - often gang-bangers from the next major
metropolitan area.

I find it hard to belive that the buyers are not complicit with the
thievery in the sense that they recognize the who or what of hot junk.
With the amount of sellers these recyclers deal with even a one-time
drop by a taveling thief should be noticeable. The buyers didn't steal
the junk and policing it interferes with the profitable operation of
their business. It's also likely that alot of the stolen junk is
converted to meth well before it reaches the fixed-location buyer.

Even if you tried to protect your copper downspout-ed house by putting
it inisde a gated communited, some tweaker would steal the gate too.

m