Police confiscate 250 lbs of copper from thief

[HPMBTT]

And now for our reading enjoyment for us copper folks...I always love little stories like this.

http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S ... =printable

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RICHLAND COUNTY, SC (WIS) – Richland County deputies said they caught a 27-year-old man who was attempting to exchange 250 pounds of copper for cash. He was taken into custody at the recycling center on Fontaine Road.

So how did they know the exchange was taking place? The owner, Lee Jarman, called it in. "It's just from being in the business for all these years that it's just one of those things you know it didn't fit right," he said, "That he wasn't a contractor and knowing the type of material that he'd brought in led us to go ahead and alert the Sheriff's Department."

Lee, his wife Daytona, and now their son, have run this business for the past ten years. "Yeah, our son, Tanner, works at our business on Saturday," said Lee, "And most of our employees I think feel like they're in the family."

They're also on a first name basis with several deputies. "It's a really great relationship with Richland County," said Lee.

Sheriff Leon Lott said Daniel Deniro Sims was charged with unlawful transportation of ferrous metals. After interviewing Sims, deputies said the suspect led them to multiple locations in Lexington County and the City of Columbia where he stole copper for six weeks.

Additional charges are pending. Sheriff Lott said investigators are working to identify all the locations and any other suspects who have worked with Sims.

[shinnosuke]

A guy in South Texas was just arrested yesterday for stealing copper. His modus operandi was to sneak into empty hotel rooms and rip out the coils from refrigerators.

[Somnophore]

He'll get off then if he's been charged with unlawful transportation of ferrous metals, as copper is a non ferrous metal.

[tn-dave]

Nice to hear that the owner of the yard called the police instead of taking it in and making the $$.

[NotABigDeal]

Around here there is an epidemic of copper thefts from empty houses. Most of these houses are bank owned. When they catch the criminals, which they frequently do, it is up to the property owner to prosecute. The problem is that the banks rarely do. In fact there is a guy that has been arrested 17+ times for it, but has never been prosecuted. Go figure....

Deal

[Gamecock]

not far from where i live...

[slickeast]

not far from where i live...

I just crossed over Fontaine Rd sunday. Was driving down 277.

[Rosco]

not far from where i live...

I just crossed over Fontaine Rd sunday. Was driving down 277.

I'm not sure what made Me look but there it was

[old71]

unlawful transportation of ferrous metals.
good God, another law on the books that I bet people never heard of.

[Mossy]

unlawful transportation of ferrous metals.
good God, another law on the books that I bet people never heard of.

I wonder if that could include stolen cars?