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Topic: Metal thieves ruin my city-Mi Pols worry about beer!
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

Scrap metal yard owner rebuttal!


Crack down on metal thieves in Michigan, not ... - Detroit Free Press
http://www.freep.com/article/20140313/OPINION05/303130022/michigan-scrapping-metal-theft-detroit-flint-bill-legislation-scrap-yards - 149k - Cached - Similar pages
3 days ago ... Scrap metal redemption is not a “black market industry run amok,” ... John D.

Detroit Free Press guest writer
John D. Dingell III


Scrap metal redemption is not a “black market industry run amok,” facilitating metal theft, as Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano said in a guest column in the Free Press. This political narrative is false and doesn’t foster a public understanding of metal theft.

Scrap dealers have an interest in ending metal theft because scrap metal yards suffer a huge number of thefts themselves. Our yards are, after all, where the most scrap metal can be found.

Scrap metal is an estimated half-trillion-dollar market worldwide. Post-consumer recycled metals make up 62% of all new metals sold in the U.S. Without it, Michigan’s auto industry would be crippled. There is not enough virgin ore to supply all the metals needed, and there are many damaging environmental consequences when metal recycling rates decline.

Metal theft is an abuse of the legitimate metal recycling industry by criminals, not an enterprise fostered by scrap metal dealers. When metals are stolen by thieves, the crime has already been committed before the metals are ever presented for redemption. Thieves disguise stolen metals before presenting them to a dealer by melting, burning, cutting and forging to transform stolen metal into seemingly innocuous items. Metal theft can be eliminated only by taking direct action against metal thieves.

House Bill 4593 creates onerous regulations for scrap dealers and their legitimate suppliers, but doesn’t impede thieves. Its three-day wait for payment is meaningless unless police actually intervene. Why would a three-day wait dissuade thieves? They still get the money and can maintain the flow of cash by managing their redemption schedule. Why would payment by check impede thieves? Check-cashing joints abound. Seven-day tag-and-hold doesn’t help when no one examines the held items. But any scrap dealer who makes a technical mistake will become a criminal.

In his guest column, Ficano tacitly admits Michigan’s lack of enforcement when he points out that there were only 19 scrap metal theft felony dispositions in 2012. There is a scrap theft alert system that lets police departments inform dealers of stolen items. Far fewer scrap theft alerts are generated in Michigan than in Ohio and Indiana. Those states’ law enforcement efforts are curtailing thefts, not more restrictive scrap purchasing regulations.

Those who suggest an inverse correlation between scrap purchasing requirements and levels of metal theft ignore the intensity of law enforcement activity.

Michigan Public Act 429 increased identification requirements and limited payment options, but did not diminish thefts. There must be a substantial increase in law enforcement against metal thieves. Sen. Virgil Smith’s proposal for a Scrap Metal Theft Prevention Authority offers real promise. It would fund desperately needed enforcement.

Scrap metal dealers are anxious to end metal thefts. We encourage a scrap transaction tax to fund Sen. Smith’s Scrap Metal Theft Prevention authority, which would perform just like Michigan’s current Automobile Theft Prevention Authority.

Another measure proven against metal thieves so far is to seize vehicles transporting stolen metal, which Flint has done with positive results. Without a vehicle, you cannot move enough stolen metal to make these thefts worthwhile.

Michigan does not need any more empty gestures like HB 4593, which stands to only cripple legitimate businesses.

John D. Dingell III is president of the Dix Scrap Iron & Metal Co. in Detroit.
Post Sat Mar 15, 2014 7:16 pm 
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J HUNTINGWORTH TUNE
F L I N T O I D

Webs , very interesting and informative.This common sense legislation was needed years ago .As they say " follow the money " ..
Is John Dingle III related to the pol. John Dingle of Michigan ?
I would think that next on the legislative agenda would be Pawn Shops...I understand that people who locate their stolen merchandise at Pawn Shops ( that hasn't been sent out of state within 24 hours of receipt ) need to pay the Pawn Shop owners if they want their goods returned.I find this is inane and insulting..Your thoughts ?
Post Sun Mar 16, 2014 8:21 am 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

Scrap metal theft is target of new state law Flint legislator championed
Print Dominic Adams | dadams5@mlive.com By Dominic Adams | dadams5@mlive.com

March 20, 2014 at 5:35 PM

FLINT, MI – Scrap metal sellers will have to wait a little longer to get paid when selling certain items to junk yards, following legislation adopted in Lansing Thursday, March 20.

State Sen. Jim Ananich, D-Flint, said he has been working on the legislation for two years.

“This is an important piece in cracking down on scrap metal theft,” Ananich said. “When the prosecution comes in – this now makes it a lot easier to catch someone. I think we’ll see a deterrent.”

Whenever catalytic converters, copper wires or air conditioners are brought in to be sold as scrap, Ananich said, the items must be photographed, and there no longer are cash payments.

“This gives law enforcement time,” he said.

It will now be illegal for scrap yards to accept items such as manhole covers or other items that are labeled as municipal or utility company property.

Some Flint residents say they welcome the tougher law, while others said they doubt it'll do much good.

"I think it's a good idea. Make 'em wait for their money," said Matt Nellett, 46. "They've already got enough ordinances in Flint on that, but a lot of the scrappers just go outside the city to turn it in."

Jim Carnes, 55, said there already are too many rules on metal recycling.

"They got enough rules and regulations on that stuff already," he said. "They've made it to where a normal scrapper can't even take anything back. I don't think it's going to make the community safer at all."

Emergency Manager Darnell Earley said he was pleased with the legislation.

"This fits in well with the governor's pledge during his State of the State address to work with the legislature to address the concerns of distressed and urban core communities," Earley said in an email. "This legislation will compliment the efforts we have already made here in Flint to mitigate this problem and will augment our measures going forward."

The bill will provide another weapon for law enforcement, according to Gov. Rick Snyder.

“Metal theft is a problem that affects the safety of our communities, and the bill approved in the Legislature today creates more tools for law enforcement to fight these destructive crimes,” Gov. Rick Snyder said in a statement. “We cannot allow thieves to continue to damage our homes, farms, utilities and public property. But more importantly, by damaging safety items such as street lights and traffic signals, these criminals are putting our residents at risk and hurting our quality of life. That’s unacceptable.”
The city of Flint also has its own mandatory 90-day jail sentence for anyone convicted of scrap metal theft.

Dominic Adams is a reporter for The Flint Journal. Contact him at dadams5@mlive.com or 810-241-8803. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.
Post Fri Mar 21, 2014 12:47 am 
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J HUNTINGWORTH TUNE
F L I N T O I D

2 or 3 houses in the College and Cultural neighborhood were hit by metal thieves this weekend March 21-23,,,at least one in broad daylight.Police are taking 1/2 hour or more to respond.
Post Sun Mar 23, 2014 12:25 pm 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

Rental home gutted by vandals in Flint

Roberto Acosta | racosta1@mlive.com By Roberto Acosta | racosta1@mlive.com
on March 23, 2014 at 10:30 AM, updated March 23, 2014 at 10:31 AM

FLINT, MI -- Pipes, wiring, a toilet, water tank and kitchen cupboard were taken and extensive damage left behind sometime between March 13 and March 20 from a rental property in the 6000 block of Karen Drive.

The property owner called police around 3:45 p.m. March 20 after discovering the items had been taken, according to a Flint police report.
Damage was also seen throughout the home, to drywall, counter tops, bathroom tub and sink following the incident.

No suspect information was available in the report, which stated the property owner has insurance on the home.

Roberto can be reached by phone at 810-429-3865, email at racosta1@mlive.com, on Facebook at Roberto Acosta Journalist, Roberto Acosta on Google Plus or on Twitter @racostaJourno.
Post Sun Mar 23, 2014 2:11 pm 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

Several feet' of copper stolen from vacant Flint home
Print David Harris | dharris5@mlive.com By David Harris | dharris5@mlive.com
on March 25, 2014 at 5:48 AM, updated March 25, 2014 at 6:01 AM

FLINT, MI -- "Several feet" of copper was stolen from a vacant home on East Court Street near Vernon Street, according to a Flint police report.
A maintenance repair person told police he saw a back door kicked in when he went to the home over the weekend. Copper was taken from the heating unit in the basement. Walls and ceilings also were damaged to get to copper, the report said.

A window also was broken. There was no other information included in the report.

Scrap metal sellers will have to wait a little longer to get paid when selling certain items to junk yards, following legislation adopted last week.

State Sen. Jim Ananich, D-Flint, worked on the legislation for two years.

Whenever catalytic converters, copper wires or air conditioners are brought in to be sold as scrap, Ananich said, the items must be photographed, and there no longer are cash payments.

It also will now be illegal for scrap yards to accept items such as manhole covers or other items that are labeled as municipal or utility company property.

ean P
Seems that there are some small issues with the implementation of "The Free Market" after all. And thank you David, at first glance this story seems random, but it does reflect an important and ongoing issue in Flint.

To contribute a personal anecdote, I watched the empty houses on either side of mine with all the diligence I could manage. For 3 years, both dwellings were empty as either bank-owned, or HUD-owned properties. Despite being in good condition and myself and several neighbors watching carefully, both were relieved of the copper plumbing and even wiring.

Desperate times...

L
Post Tue Mar 25, 2014 5:54 am 
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