[Durham INC] copper theft vs. auto theft as a reported crime

[Helena Cragg]

You know that old saying "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies,
and statistics."   The thesis you propose in this message is a fine
illustration that without the proper frame of reference the statistics you
share are absolutely irrelevant.   The problem is not only copper;
depending on market pricing at any given time steel, aluminum, and other
metals will fetch a pretty penny.  The salvage price of copper and other
metals has been down for the 1st 3 months of 2009 when compared to this past
summer when the price of copper was sky high.   Thus, it is no surprise at
all that there would not be many reported cases of copper theft in the very
brief window of time that you refer to.

Secondly, I take issue with the presumption that all copper thefts are, or
even could be, accurately tracked as such.   In the vast majority of cases
that I have seen the incidents have been coded as a Breaking & Entering,
Vandalism, Trespassing, Theft by taking, or some other litany of charges.
Auto theft however is quite clearly a separately tracked category.

While I agree that a car theft could be very detrimental to some victims,
have you ever stopped to think of the impact on an elderly person or a
family is their A/C is rendered useless by some thief looking to make a
quick buck?   You incorrectly assume that the problem is only applicable to
vacant properties.  I am aware of several businesses and churches that have
been hit repeatedly.

You are also apparently oblivious to the fact that the cost of salvage items
is directly linked to the increase in car thefts.   Take the time to stop
making incorrect assumptions and you might learn that the theft of catalytic
converters is still increasing, car batteries can be sold for chump change
right alongside copper, and there are several brazen thieves who will steal
an old heavy car merely to take it to the scrap yard for the metal costs.

Finally you are categorically incorrect that copper theft is a problem
isolated to just certain neighborhoods.   It is in fact a nationwide
problem.   I'll include just a few links just to make my point.

California http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/31/us/31copper.html
Delaware
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080415/NEWS01/804
150348
Zambia  http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-11359600.html
Verizon telephone lines in Durham
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/2479771/
Cary  http://www.carynews.com/news/public_safety/story/11579.html
Salvation Army in Raleigh  http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1630976/

Randy, I hope that just because the problem has not impacted you directly as
of yet, that you will refrain from diminishing the impact that it has had on
numerous other victims.

Sincerely, 

Helena
Old North Durham

Sincerely, 

Helena
919-868-6208
hcragg at earthlink.net

 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: inc-list-bounces at rtpnet.org 
> [mailto:inc-list-bounces at rtpnet.org] On Behalf Of RW Pickle
> Sent: 03/25/2009 6:29 PM
> To: inc-list at durhaminc.org
> Subject: [Durham INC] copper theft vs. auto theft as a reported crime
> 
> As promised, but a little longer than anticipated because I'm 
> not the one providing the information, here is a breakdown of 
> car theft relative to copper theft. As the statistics did 
> bear out, copper theft is minimal compared to car theft in 
> the time frame I asked for (from 2009 forward).
> This information was provided by The Durham Police Department 
> Crime Statistics Division and I'd like to publicly thank them 
> for their work on this.
> 
> "For the year 2009, as of 3/18/09, there were a total of 36 
> incidents where there was a theft of copper and 143 motor 
> vehicle thefts."
> 
> I did not get the breakdown to know if it was copper from ac 
> units, pipes under a house, or copper wire. Nor did it break 
> it down to where you could determine if it was an abandoned 
> house, occupied house, from a job site or a work trailer. It 
> was a total report of coper theft. So it could have come from 
> anywhere; suggesting it all was not residential related.
> 
> So instead of focusing on copper, perhaps the focus should be 
> on vehicles.
> When a person loses the use of their vehicle, any number of 
> economic and social problems begin to occur. They have no way 
> to get to work, church, get groceries or medical attention. 
> If there are kids, this is a whole other set of problems. If 
> it is the only car a family has, well...
> regardless, their freedom of getting around has been taken 
> away. When someone steals some copper from the ac unit of an  
> abandoned property (or anywhere on residential or commercial 
> property), that effects only the property owner. And I said 
> earlier, insurance covers the theft. Most of the cars that 
> are stolen do not have comprehensive auto insurance so there 
> is no insurance claim to help that individual.
> 
> So just because there is this urgent unsubstantiated need for 
> thinking something needs to be done, statistics show that 
> there really isn't that much of it actually happening (at 
> least compared to cars which bring more money when sold for 
> scrap). And if we looked at it relative to where it is 
> happening, we would probably find it is typically isolated to 
> a general radius around specific neighborhoods. Cars, on the 
> other hand, seem to disappear all across town.
> 
> RWP
> 27 Beverly
> 
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