Daily Press: Metal theft on the rise in Victor Valley
/Metal theft on the rise in Victor Valley
Sheriff's officials blames economy
April 21, 2013 4:58 PM
Despite a recent decrease in copper prices, theft of the metal has continued to increase as a result of tough economic times, a director of loss prevention for a regional recycler said.
The price of copper in 2006 to 2007 was approximately $4 to $5 a pound. Today the price is much lower, between $2.50 to $2.80 per pound, said Roger Young, a retired San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputy who now works for SA Recycling.
Young, who oversees 50 recycling facilities throughout California, Arizona and Nevada, is also a reserve deputy sheriff for the city of Hesperia. He believes the High Desert is an extremely target-rich environment for metal theft because of the number of unmanned remote cell phone towers and switching stations operated by utility companies including Edison, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and PG&E.
“These are easy targets because there is no one around for miles because the desert is so spread out,” Young said.
Over the past two years The Rural Crimes Task Force, which is run out of the Victor Valley Sheriff’s Station, has seen a dramatic increase in metal theft, said San Bernardino County sheriff’s Deputy Kristie Dougan, who is assigned to the Task Force.
From 2011 to 2012 the amount of metal theft, which includes copper, aluminum, stainless steel, iron and any metal that can be recycled, was astounding, Dougan said.
In Victorville during that time period there was grand theft of metal in the approximate amount of $1.4 million; Apple Valley $175,000; Hesperia $1.1 million; Adelanto $1.3 million; and Barstow $1.2 million, Dougan said.
Lower numbers in Apple Valley are a result of the area being more compact and the fact that there are fewer vacant buildings, she said.
Dougan believes the increase in metal theft is due largely to the economy and the fact that so many people are out of work, she said. She said thefts have spiked even as the state legislature has fought back with more laws.
“It’s unfortunate that no matter how much legislation passes, until laws are stiffer, we are just spinning our wheels,” Dougan said.
Dougan called metal thefts a billion-dollar industry that’s not just limited to San Bernardino County.
“It’s a nationwide problem,” she said.
Copper is the metal choice of thieves due its value and the fact that it is used for a variety of products, including pipes for plumbing, wires for telecommunications and air conditioning units, which often contain condensers made of the metal. It’s also a good conductor, Dougan said.
The majority of metal theft is residential, rather than commercial. Thieves have the upper hand because there are so many vacant homes to chose from due to the high number of foreclosures in the area, she said.
Young said the regulations in place for scrap yards include taking a right thumb print of potential metal sellers, making a copy of the person’s driver’s license or identification card and recording the license plate of the vehicle that delivered the metal to be recycled.
Anyone with information regarding metal theft may report it by calling San Bernardino County Sheriff's Dispatch at 760-245-4211. Those callers who wish to remain anonymous can do so by calling WeTip at 800- 78-CRIME (27463) or visit www.WeTip.com.
Rebecca Howes can be reached at rhowes@vvdailypress.com or at (760) 951-6276.
STRIPPED: Copper wiring from light switches and plumbing are stripped from the walls of a vacant commercial building in Victorville on Friday. Copper sold for up to $5 a pound in 2006 to 2007 and has dropped currently to as low as $2.50 a pound.
DAVID PARDO, DAILY PRESS