Summary of Responses
The table below summarizes the responses to scrap metal theft, how they are intended to work, under what conditions they should work best, and some factors you should consider before implementing a particular response. It is critical that you tailor responses to local circumstances, and that you can justify each response based on reliable analysis. In most cases, an effective strategy will involve implementing several different responses. Law enforcement responses alone are seldom effective in reducing or solving the problem.
| Improving Opportunities for Secure but Convenient Storage | ||||
| Response No. | Response | How It Works | Works Best If… | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Increasing the Effort Required To Steal Metal | ||||
| 1 | Hardening scrap metal theft targets | Increases the effort required to steal metal | ...government agencies, builders, utility companies, and scrap metal buyers are educated about crime prevention through environmental design and collaboratively increase physical security | Some initial costs may be incurred to secure targets |
| 2 | Securing vulnerable places | Increases the effort required to steal metal | ...private security collaborates with police to perform risk assessments, followed by redesigning locations with enhanced security | Some costs may be incurred to secure places |
| Response No. | Response | How It Works | Works Best If… | Considerations |
| Increasing Offenders' Risks | ||||
| 3 | Identifying scrap metal thieves | Increases offenders' risk of detection | ...police officers are trained in signs of suspicious activity related to metal theft | May require some specialized training for police officers |
| 4 | Identifying scrap metal sellers | Deters thieves from trying to sell stolen metal to scrap metal dealers for fear of being identified | ...state legislation requires all dealers to collect and record photo ID information from each seller | Police may need to persuade some scrap metal dealers to identify sellers; lax scrutiny of IDs may undermine effectiveness; dealers may lose some sales |
| 5 | Recording and tracking scrap metal transactions | Deters thieves from trying to sell stolen metal to scrap metal dealers for fear of being identified and linked to reported stolen metal | ...state legislation requires scrap metal dealers to record relevant information related to their purchases, and pay sellers by check rather than cash | Scrap metal dealers may need help to set up logistics for keeping and sharing records with police |
| 6 | Putting ID marks on targeted metal products | Deters thieves from trying to sell and dealers from buying stolen metal for fear of being linked to reported stolen metal | ...potential offenders and dealers know targeted metal is identifiable and it is likely police will challenge them for buying or selling it | May require legislation that requires manufacturers to mark some metal products, or advanced technology to mark them after production; property-marking schemes not generally proved effective |
| 7 | Conducting sting operations | Deters scrap metal dealers by increasing their risk of arrest for knowingly buying stolen metal | ...dealers are given opportunities to improve business practices, and police appropriately educate them about legislation related to scrap metal theft | May have unintended consequences such as increasing the demand for stolen metal; dealers may be less likely to cooperate with the police after the police arrest their employees |
| 8 | Surveilling scrap metal yards | Deters thieves from trying to sell stolen metal to scrap metal dealers for fear of being identified | ...police challenge suspects when they enter the premises | Risks alienating legitimate customers, which can undermine dealer cooperation; difficult to sustain surveillance for long periods |
| 9 | Offering reward money for tips on metal thieves | Increases risks of apprehension and arrest to offenders | ...police market hotlines and rewards to the public | Requires funds; staff administers rewards program |
| Response No. | Response | How It Works | Works Best If… | Considerations |
| Reducing the Rewards for Selling Stolen Metal | ||||
| 10 | Removing attractive targets | Reduces temptations for opportunistic thieves and increases the effort for professional thieves to find high-value targets | ...the targets represent a significant portion of the local metal theft problem | Changing the business practices of suppliers and receivers may be necessary, and they may need to be persuaded to do so |
| 11 | Replacing copper ground wire with copper weld | Denies thieves the benefits of high-value targets | ...offenders are aware that copper targets are copper weld and that copper weld is worth less in resale | Requires the cooperation of utility and construction companies; potential offenders must be informed about the reduced value of copper weld |
| 12 | Prohibiting the purchase of restricted materials | Denies thieves the benefits of high-value targets, which discourages thieves from stealing restricted materials | ...scrap metal dealers post conspicuous notices that they will not buy restricted materials, and dealers notify police when attempted sales occur | Offenders may try to destroy markings on restricted materials, so dealers should also refuse to buy altered or damaged materials |
| 13 | Prohibiting cash payments | Denies offenders the immediate benefits of selling stolen metal and increases offenders' risk of being identified through cashed checks | ...offenders know they will not receive cash payments before they steal any metal | May require changes in scrap metal dealer business practices to administer check payments |
| 14 | Increasing the financial incentive to safeguard certain metal products | Improves the guardianship of high-value targets | ...the financial incentive exceeds the value of allowing metal to be sold for scrap | Beer distributors may oppose it out of concern that higher keg deposits will discourage sales |
| Response No. | Response | How It Works | Works Best If… | Considerations |
| Removing Offenders' Excuses | ||||
| 15 | Conducting a public awareness campaign | Increases the guardianship of high-value targets and strengthens social disapproval of stealing metal | ...the campaign is well designed and carefully targeted | Publicity campaigns can be expensive; it may not affect professional thieves' behavior; it is difficult to measure publicity campaigns' direct impact |
| 16 | Educating stakeholders about their responsibilities in preventing the sale of stolen scrap metal | Promotes greater compliance with regulations designed to reduce the theft and resale of stolen metal, and increases the risks to offenders of being denied sales of stolen metal or reported to the police | ...it is targeted to stakeholders who are generally willing to comply with regulations, but just don't understand them | Can be time-consuming and could require enforcement if cooperation is lacking; may require logistical support to promote scrap recycler accountability and reporting mechanisms such as fax machines, cameras, and computer systems |
| Response No. | Response | How It Works | Works Best If… | Considerations |
| Responses With Limited Effectiveness | ||||
| 17 | Targeting individual offenders | Unlikely, by itself, to reduce overall metal theft | ||
| 18 | Enacting and enforcing "tag and hold" legislation | Unpopular with scrap metal dealers; difficult to enforce |
Free Bound Copies of the Problem Guides
You may order free bound copies in any of three ways:
Online: Department of Justice COPS Response Center
Email: askCopsRC@usdoj.gov
Phone: 800-421-6770 or 202-307-1480
Allow several days for delivery.
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Theft of Scrap Metal
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