Scrap metal sales to see restrictions (copper becomes theft target)

[phantom power]

Speaking of "resource wars."

Facing a rash of wire thefts, damaged transformers, missing motors and gutted air conditioners, the Arizona House voted 55-2 Tuesday to place new restrictions on the sale of “scrap” metal.

House bill 2314, sponsored by Rep. Jerry Weiers, R-Glendale, is meant to deter metal theft — a persistent problem in the Valley. Copper in particular has become a hot commodity because of its increasing value. Scrap dealers say they are offering upward of $1.60 a pound for copper.

(...)

Farmers have been victims, losing parts of equipment such as irrigation pumps. And homeowners also have been hit. In Scottsdale, police have arrested people tearing apart air conditioners for the copper.

“You go to turn on your air conditioner ... and nothing happens,” Weiers said. The problem is discovered when the homeowner calls for a service technician who finds out “you don’t have almost anything to work on.”

Utilities have reported instances where thieves cut down power poles to steal the copper from transformers, leaving customers in the dark.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/85383

[Kutjara]

1. But hey, the economy's booming and everyone's better off!

Sure, that's why people have turned to scavenging copper to make ends meet. Before long, folks'll be getting mugged for the gold in their teeth.

It reminds me of Glasgow in the early 80s. Things were so bad economically, people turned to stealing park railings and manhole covers. There were a spate of injuries and a couple of deaths from people falling down unprotected manholes.

[phantom power]

2. I think the cheap-resource party is definitely coming to an end.

[yourout]

3. Years ago I company I did work for made extentable tree pruners...

that were coming back under warranty almost destroyed. Turned out someone was cutting down live high voltage power lines and selling it for scrap.

[hunter]

4. We're going third world...

As the disparity between the poor and the wealthy increases, so do crimes like this.

Pacific Gas & Electric is losing about a million dollars a year to copper thefts. Some copper thieves risk their own lives when they go after live lines and equipment.

[depakid]

5. People think entropy only has to do with energy

They're wrong.

Materials are also subject to the second law.

[phantom power]

6. Yes, to the extent that used-up materials embody unuseable energy.

Of course, we are lucky enough to live in a system that isn't closed, and receives surplus energy, so at least our high-entropy junk can be recovered by pumping the cycle with new energy.

Not that we do it. Yet.