Oct 2, 2007 9:32 pm US/Central
Police Go After Scrap Yards Buying Stolen Metals
by J.D. Miles
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―
The fastest growing crime in North Texas continues to wreak havoc on local businesses.
In the past five years, the price of copper has gone from 74 cents a pound to more than $3 a pound.
Thieves ripped copper wiring out of the two air conditioning units at a North Dallas Grandy's overnight, leaving the restaurant without cool air all day and costing $30,000 in damage.
"No customers come into the restaurant because there's no air conditioning," said Ibrahim Assad, owner of the Grandy's. "It's been devastating so far."
Officers out of the Dallas Police Department's Central Patrol Division conducted inspections Tuesday at 20 scrap yards looking for stolen metal.
"I can generally look at a pile and pick something out that looks suspicious pretty quick," said Detective Ron Mason with the Dallas Police Department.
During the inspections, Detective Mason placed a hold on some suspicious pieces of metal, including stadium bleachers.
The detective said two of the scrap yards he visited had been previously cited for possessing stolen copper.
At one scrap yard on Lamar Street, employees said they are trying to follow the law and avoid buying from thieves.
"They come in and check all the time," said scrap yard owner Sylvia Williams. "We try to be in compliance. Well, we are in compliance."
The effort to make buyers more accountable is something copper theft victims welcome.
(CBS 11 News)
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