XPost: talk.politics.misc, alt.politics.usa, alt.crime
XPost: alt.politics.republicans
https://www.newsnationnow.com/crime/thieves-stolen-copper-cash/
Thieves are getting their hands on scrap metal as a way to
make fast cash, a trend that is growing across the U.S.
These thieves are working to get their hands on everything
from catalytic converters from vehicles to copper wires,
statues and other metals for quick resale.
People wanting to make money off pieces of scrap metal
are bringing their stolen goods to a scrap center, but
it is hard to tell what metals will sell well and what
won’t.
At Active Recycling in Los Angeles, workers typically
turn away anything that was obviously stolen, but workers
say that it continues to be a lucrative practice at other
shops.
“We don’t question it, but we look at it, and we can
pretty much tell, with the experience we have, we could
tell pretty much what it’s from, and if it’s something
like from like a catalytic converter, we don’t buy it,”
. . .
But if they don't, clearly others WILL. There have been
high-profile murders associated with converter theft
lately.
There is a copper shortage. Demand is stretching supply.
As everything, even cars, trend electric they ALL need
lots of copper. It can only be mined/refined just SO
quickly.
So, copper is the new gold. Thieves rapidly strip
entire buildings.
Brass, a copper alloy, is also completely recyclable
and widely used. "Bastard" batches can be tweaked
to precise alloys quite easily. It's found in many
machine parts, plumbing valves and such.
Converters employ rare expensive metals like platinum,
rhodium and palladium. Check Monex to see what those go
for per ounce.
Oh, for fun :
https://www.newsnationnow.com/automotive/ap-thefts-of-charging-cables-pose-yet-another-obstacle-to-appeal-of-electric-vehicles/
The charger cables for your worship-me EVs - they get
STOLEN almost immediately now :-)
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