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Login to post Forums » Off-topic discussion » &*%$ing scrap thieves « 1 2 3 »

  • Feb. 8, 2010 9:53 a.m. skruffy Dork

    The damned scrap thieves stole the filler neck off my waste oil tank at the shop this weekend. I'm sure someone will get 50 cents or so for it, I'll probably spend $200 replacing it. It's a big y adapter for setting two oil drain pans on stands into, and it was just threaded into the tank.

    I used to not care about the ones that went through the dumpster for brake rotors and stuff, but not anymore. I'm pressing theft and trespassing charges against the next one a I catch out here. I don't care if they've taken anything or not. I'm tired of it.

  • GameboyRMH

    Feb. 8, 2010 9:58 a.m. GameboyRMH UltraDork

    Wow. Wouldn't it cost them more than the value of the metal to de-sludge the part?

  • ansonivan

    Feb. 8, 2010 10:04 a.m. ansonivan Reader

    I feel your pain man, when converter prices spiked some scum went through my lot and removed the cats from every one of my parts cars. I've contemplated booby trapping a parts car with a few airbags attached to vibration sensors.... my luck someone would loose an eye and I'd loose my ass in court.

  • 4cylndrfury

    Feb. 8, 2010 10:12 a.m. 4cylndrfury SuperDork

    ansonivan wrote:

    I feel your pain man, when converter prices spiked some scum went through my lot and removed the cats from every one of my parts cars. I've contemplated booby trapping a parts car with a few airbags attached to vibration sensors.... my luck someone would loose an eye and I'd loose my ass in court.

    probably wouldnt be too hard to convince a judge (who hopefully isnt a gear head) that a would be thief, all strung out on gubment methadone, fiddling with a cars tender underbits can upset its delicate emissions control sensors, and can deploy the cars airbag accidentally. you had no way of knowing said drughead would be there, and hes the negligent one for not disabling the cars electronics properly as outlined in this handy dandy haynes manual

  • DukeOfUndersteer

    Feb. 8, 2010 10:32 a.m. DukeOfUndersteer SuperDork

    that sucks man, oh, BTW, youve got mail!

  • Wally

    Feb. 8, 2010 10:33 a.m. Wally UberDork

    Did they just take the neck? We had a truck come to one of our depots a couple weeks ago and steal all the waste oil. I never knew there was such a demand for old oil.

  • GameboyRMH

    Feb. 8, 2010 11:29 a.m. GameboyRMH UltraDork

    Wally wrote:

    Did they just take the neck? We had a truck come to one of our depots a couple weeks ago and steal all the waste oil. I never knew there was such a demand for old oil.

    What!? That stuff has value!? I wish some trucks would come and steal my old oil!

  • Wally

    Feb. 8, 2010 11:41 a.m. Wally UberDork

    I didn't think so either but one night a truck came and emptied the tank, then about two days later our regular vendor came and went crazy because it was stolen. They had a police report and everything

  • cwh

    Feb. 8, 2010 11:42 a.m. cwh SuperDork

    Need some security cameras? PM me.

  • shadetree30

    Feb. 8, 2010 11:43 a.m. shadetree30 Dork

    Wally wrote:

    Did they just take the neck? We had a truck come to one of our depots a couple weeks ago and steal all the waste oil. I never knew there was such a demand for old oil.

    There is if you've got a waste oil heater...we have folks with signs in front of their businesses soliciting used oil.

  • Wally

    Feb. 8, 2010 11:47 a.m. Wally UberDork

    They have it on tape. We have cameras in all the important places,the doors, the break rooms, bathrooms, over the suggestion box.

  • slefain

    Feb. 8, 2010 12:21 p.m. slefain Dork

    Wally wrote:

    They have it on tape. We have cameras in all the important places,the doors, the break rooms, bathrooms, over the suggestion box.

    At Mustangs Unlimited, the only security cameras were the ones pointed at the employees.

  • Marty!

    Feb. 8, 2010 12:47 p.m. Marty! HalfDork

    Wally wrote:

    ......., over the suggestion box.

    LOL, sounds like my last job.

  • Feb. 8, 2010 1:03 p.m. skruffy Dork

    I've thought about cameras, but then I'd just have a nice video of the guys stealing stuff. I really just need to get my shop better organized so I can keep everything inside.

  • Basil Exposition

    Feb. 8, 2010 3:03 p.m. Basil Exposition New Reader

    ansonivan wrote:

    I feel your pain man, when converter prices spiked some scum went through my lot and removed the cats from every one of my parts cars. I've contemplated booby trapping a parts car with a few airbags attached to vibration sensors.... my luck someone would loose an eye and I'd loose my ass in court.

    No kidding. Setting booby traps for thieves apparently violates their civil rights. I remember a case where someone set up a shotgun on a string and got arrested when someone tried to break into the premises and got shot. I don't remember the outcome, but I think he was convicted. Either that or he was successfully sued by the "victim."

    Now, in Texas anyway, if you are actually holding the shotgun and pull the trigger, that's OK. Even if the criminal is unarmed.

  • Feb. 8, 2010 3:18 p.m. skruffy Dork

    I've got the handle to a long deceased heavy truck jack sitting by the back door of the shop (it's also the worlds best cheater bar ). It easily weighs 20bls or so and is 4' long. I'm sure I could bonk one of those guys good with it. Think I'd go to jail?

  • carguy123

    Feb. 8, 2010 3:21 p.m. carguy123 SuperDork

    Now, in Texas anyway, if you are actually holding the shotgun and pull the trigger, that's OK. Even if the criminal is unarmed.

    IF you feel your life is threatened.

    If you shot them in the yard you no longer have to drag them inside.

  • Wally

    Feb. 8, 2010 3:34 p.m. Wally UberDork

    skruffy wrote:

    I've thought about cameras, but then I'd just have a nice video of the guys stealing stuff. I really just need to get my shop better organized so I can keep everything inside.

    I had a tow truck stolen, it was used to steal a Maxima. A month later it sent me a post card from a red light camera in Queens

  • Basil Exposition

    Feb. 8, 2010 4:01 p.m. Basil Exposition New Reader

    carguy123 wrote:

    Now, in Texas anyway, if you are actually holding the shotgun and pull the trigger, that's OK. Even if the criminal is unarmed.

    IF you feel your life is threatened.

    If you shot them in the yard you no longer have to drag them inside.

    Wrong on the first count. You can use deadly force when protecting your property without regard to whether your life is threatened.

    http://www.rc123.com/texas_castle_doctrine.html

    Right on the second count, as long as you are protecting your property, including your vehicle parked at the curb. In a recent case a man shot two burglars running away that were stealing his neighbor's property. He was not indicted for a crime. See the Joe Horn case in Pasadena. Caused quite a stir.

    But, don't take legal advice from an internet forum, whatever you do!

  • Feb. 8, 2010 6:35 p.m. wbjones HalfDork

    skruffy wrote:

    I've thought about cameras, but then I'd just have a nice video of the guys stealing stuff. I really just need to get my shop better organized so I can keep everything inside.

    Rottweiler FTW

  • Karl La Follette

    Feb. 8, 2010 6:38 p.m. Karl La Follette HalfDork

    Hmmm scrap metal need help see scrap thread florida local G ville or oc all a /// spring hill

  • Trans_Maro

    Feb. 8, 2010 7:27 p.m. Trans_Maro HalfDork

    Watch out for those Jawas

    Shawn

  • porksboy

    Feb. 8, 2010 8:58 p.m. porksboy Dork

    Are scrap metal yards required to act the same way pawn shops do? Do pawn shops have to hold stuf and perform due diligance to ensure crap isnt stolen? I could be totaly off base on all of this.

  • patgizz

    Feb. 8, 2010 9:29 p.m. patgizz SuperDork

    ohio law requires them to take your drivers license #

    they dont hold anything, it goes into the dumpster or bins and gets shipped out when they are full.

    i took in a car in two halves with no title, they threw it in the dumpster, paid me, took my word that it wasnt stolen, and i was on my way. i took in 4 cats one day and walked out with $220. for all they know i could have sawzalled them off at the mall. i just happened to buy two cars that day and had two more cats waiting for the prices to go up.

    i've had scrap stolen. i had to stop off at school one day to sign a couple things(cleveland state university) and planned to run to the scrapyard on the way home. my load of storm doors was taken right out of my truck parked on the street with people walking by all day.

  • slefain

    Feb. 9, 2010 8:44 a.m. slefain Dork

    In my neighborhood (the ghetto) all the water meter lids have been stolen (except for mine, it is buried under yard crud).

    I spotted our local scrapper patrolling our street one day, eying my cars from the top of the driveway. I waved to him and walked up the driveway, then around the back of his truck, taking a pic of his license plate with my phone. I then walked up to his driver door and before he could say anything I snapped a pic of him. I then told him I had photos of him and his plates, and that he needs to be moving along. He said he wanted to buy my scrap cars. I told him they were not scrap, and that if so much as a lug nut disappears from my property I'm turning over the photos to the local cops as my main suspect. He cussed me out and tore off.

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