Efforts to crack down on copper theft suffered a setback in New Jersey with the surprise veto of a bill that would have required scrap dealers to keep records of their purchases.
With the region facing challenging economic times and the value of recycled copper rising, copper theft at Springfield, Mo.’s unmanned electricity substations was starting to rise at an alarming rate.
Sims Metal Management, with locations throughout much of the U.S., will pay $4.1 million to settle a lawsuit after San Francisco and Contra Costa County accused the company of purchasing stolen metal.
A judge has ordered the owner of a scrap yard where the remains of several stolen school buses were found held in lieu of bail on a charge unrelated to the case.
More than a dozen ambulances were recovered this week in a northwest Houston scrap yard, and law enforcement officials believe the ambulances are among dozens more that were stolen. GPS in vehicles played a role.
Like many utility companies around the country, City Utilities in Springfield, Mo., was the victim of copper theft. To protect the substations, security cameras were a must. However, providing the lighting for the cameras posed a problem.