Whenever I read of a copper cable or pipe theft the report inevitably
headlines the replacement cost - or the cost of the damage and not the
likely much smaller scrap value that the theft may have earned the thieves.

I think this appears to make thefts more attractive to the criminal
fraternity. Having seen the price of a length of copper pipe in B&Q, it
hardly seems worth getting caught stealing it and taking it to a scrap
dealer - and possibly sharing the proceeds.

On 22 Mar, 20:50, "John" wrote:
Whenever I read of a copper cable or pipe theft the report inevitably
headlines the replacement cost - or the cost of the damage and not the
likely much smaller scrap value that the theft may have earned the thieves.

I think this appears to make thefts more attractive to the criminal
fraternity. Having seen the price of a length of copper pipe in B&Q, it
hardly seems worth getting caught stealing it and taking it to a scrap
dealer - and possibly sharing the proceeds.

I`m not sure what you are trying to convey here,but this is my story.
I have a small factory unit which is too small for production so I was
using it as a store.Over two years ago when copper was £3.50/kg for
scrap it got broken into and stripped of every bit of copper in the
place.From the main switch out,everything was gone,even the 1.5mm twin
and earths feeding the lights in the offices.Cisterns,washbasins and
sinks were torn from the walls to get the short lengths of copper
going to the taps etc.Machines were smashed to get bits of
brass,aluminium,anything non ferrous.
I reckoned they would have got £1500-2000 for it all.Cost to me over
£40,000.
Do you really think these people don`t know the value of scrap?They
couldn`t give a monkeys about the new cost or the installation cost
because they`re not buying it.But,they know exactly what a bit of
scrap is worth as that`s how they live,on their wits.
To rub salt into the wound the council wouldn`t even consider a
reduction in the rates.
Mark.

"mark" wrote in message
...
On 22 Mar, 20:50, "John" wrote:
Whenever I read of a copper cable or pipe theft the report inevitably
headlines the replacement cost - or the cost of the damage and not the
likely much smaller scrap value that the theft may have earned the
thieves.

I think this appears to make thefts more attractive to the criminal
fraternity. Having seen the price of a length of copper pipe in B&Q, it
hardly seems worth getting caught stealing it and taking it to a scrap
dealer - and possibly sharing the proceeds.

I`m not sure what you are trying to convey here,but this is my story.
I have a small factory unit which is too small for production so I was
using it as a store.Over two years ago when copper was £3.50/kg for
scrap it got broken into and stripped of every bit of copper in the
place.From the main switch out,everything was gone,even the 1.5mm twin
and earths feeding the lights in the offices.Cisterns,washbasins and
sinks were torn from the walls to get the short lengths of copper
going to the taps etc.Machines were smashed to get bits of
brass,aluminium,anything non ferrous.
I reckoned they would have got £1500-2000 for it all.Cost to me over
£40,000.
Do you really think these people don`t know the value of scrap?They
couldn`t give a monkeys about the new cost or the installation cost
because they`re not buying it.But,they know exactly what a bit of
scrap is worth as that`s how they live,on their wits.
To rub salt into the wound the council wouldn`t even consider a
reduction in the rates.
Mark.



I was just making the point that the headlines would probably make it appear
that they made of with £40,000.

Your situation was clearly more than the frequent robbing of a bit of 15mm
copper that then causes a building to flood and cause thousands of pounds of
damage - for the sake of a fiver's worth of scrap.

"John" wrote in message ...

Whenever I read of a copper cable or pipe theft the report inevitably
headlines the replacement cost - or the cost of the damage and not the
likely much smaller scrap value that the theft may have earned the thieves.

I think this appears to make thefts more attractive to the criminal
fraternity. Having seen the price of a length of copper pipe in B&Q, it
hardly seems worth getting caught stealing it and taking it to a scrap
dealer - and possibly sharing the proceeds.



The reasons why newspaper headlines only ever report the replacement value
rather than the scrap value are -

a) This is the reported value the insurers actually pay out on

b) Reporters normally get their information from the insurers or the people
who've been robbed, rather then the thieves themselves or their fences.

c) Criminals won't necessarily believe anything they read in newspapers
in any case. If only because they, and they alone, will be aware of the
extent to which even the most respectable of citizens will sometimes tend
to overstate the extent of their losses when making insurance claims.
Or possibly even understate their losses if under investigation by the
tax man. Especially where safe deposit boxes are concerned.


michael adams

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