Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 21

Frustrated - What are your thoughts

| A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
  1. #1
    TexasDeere started this thread.
    TexasDeere's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Spring, TX (Houston Suburb)
    Posts
    68
    Thanks
    15
    Thanked 46 Times in 19 Posts

    Frustrated - What are your thoughts

    I have one of my first really large projects. I am filling up 2 roll off containers a week. The scrap yard is just swapping out the containers and I keep filling them. Anyway, we have temporary construction chain link fencing set up within the work zone. As I take metal to the edge of the roof top, it is loaded on a skytrack and then dumped in the metal only roll off container. The metal container is blue while the trash ones are brown. My metal container is marked scrap metal as they other are marked waste. Over the last 4 weeks, I have had 5 different scrappers get into my metal dumpster. It is marked scrap metal and behind a chain link fence that says "keep out", "hard hat area", etc. The 5 I ran off each all played the ole I am dumb and thought this was just trash. Sunday someone got in there and took some out but they had to unhook the fence and disregard the signs. At least I left it with some heavy stuff on top and they managed to roll one piece out but couldn't get it on their trailer/truck due to weight. They got a couple pieces of the smaller stuff. My questions, I how do you keep other scrappers out? I have made sure there is fencing, signs, clearly marked roll off containers, etc. Sometimes at the jobsites I work, we set some stuff on the ground and people think it is free to pick up. Again, if I intercept the act, it is always the ole " I thought it was trash". I am frustrated because these other random scrappers are contantly skimming my projects.



  2. #2
    danielms's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Mar 2012
    Location
    mississippi
    Posts
    133
    Thanks
    71
    Thanked 31 Times in 25 Posts
    mark it blatently clear enough that they can not use that line and state that police will be called as soon as they are spotted with no notice to them, write it big on a 4x8 plywood and wire it to the gate. also maybe get an I beam as long as the bin and press it down with the skytrack so nothing can be removed, kind of like some people set the bucket of a track hoe on the tounge of a trailer. maybe get a deer camera and hide it somewhere close to get tag numbers on weekends

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to danielms for This Post:


  4. #3
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Feb 2012
    Location
    OK
    Posts
    5,731
    Thanks
    6,815
    Thanked 3,465 Times in 1,990 Posts
    make a staging area on the roof, when you get a load ready, fill the roll off and have it picked up that day

  5. #4
    Mechanic688's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Warsaw , Ind. In the heart of the lakes, and down the street from the hotel where Al Capone stayed.
    Posts
    9,568
    Thanks
    11,247
    Thanked 10,730 Times in 4,728 Posts
    There is a sign out front of the junkyard I go to that says " If you can read this you are within range" and there's a pic of a revolver on the sign. Pretty self explanatory.
    P & M Recycling - Specializing in E-Waste Recycling.
    If you enjoy your freedom, thank a vet.

  6. The Following 3 Users say Thank You for This Post by Mechanic688:


  7. #5
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Ont. Canada
    Posts
    83
    Thanks
    3
    Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts
    Seems like these illiterate a..holes can't understand any sign other than the one that says scrap metal. Try marking it as radioactive. But you should take other measures how about higher fence possibly barbed or maybe a guard dog or cameras. As far as I'm concerned they are trespassing, whether they think it's trash or not. Call the cops if you know anything about them.
    "If only I had known then, what I know now."

  8. #6
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Feb 2012
    Location
    OK
    Posts
    5,731
    Thanks
    6,815
    Thanked 3,465 Times in 1,990 Posts
    that's a good one Mechanic

  9. The Following User Says Thank You to Bear for This Post:


  10. #7
    parrothead's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Treasure Coast, FL
    Posts
    2,416
    Thanks
    667
    Thanked 2,067 Times in 953 Posts
    Thieves suck!
    "64K should be enough for anybody." - Bill Gates 1981
    http://www.treasurecoastelectronicrecycling.com/

  11. #8
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Boise, ID
    Posts
    2,702
    Thanks
    2,237
    Thanked 2,352 Times in 1,014 Posts
    Electrify the dumpster.


    What you are encountering are bottom of the pond scum that no amount of signs, laws, talking to, etc will deter.

    I like the I-beam idea, or having it picked up same day it's filled.

  12. The Following 4 Users say Thank You for This Post by IdahoScrapper:


  13. #9
    Mechanic688's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Warsaw , Ind. In the heart of the lakes, and down the street from the hotel where Al Capone stayed.
    Posts
    9,568
    Thanks
    11,247
    Thanked 10,730 Times in 4,728 Posts
    Electrify the dumpster.
    But if one of them gets hurt on it they can come back to sue you. These lawyers today will try to sue almost anyone.

  14. #10
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Boise, ID
    Posts
    2,702
    Thanks
    2,237
    Thanked 2,352 Times in 1,014 Posts
    I wasn't being serious.

  15. The Following User Says Thank You to IdahoScrapper for This Post:


  16. #11
    KzScrapper's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Denver Metro, CO
    Posts
    4,841
    Thanks
    7,019
    Thanked 5,792 Times in 2,417 Posts
    "Every other thief shot dead...and the last one just left."
    Recyclable Material Merchant Wholesaler
    Certified Zip-Tie Mechanic
    "Give them enough so they can do something with it, but not too much that they won't do nothing."

  17. #12
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    May 2011
    Location
    Saint Louis, MO
    Posts
    762
    Thanks
    15
    Thanked 900 Times in 349 Posts
    Request a lid for it. Pretty simple.

  18. #13
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Jersey Shore
    Posts
    203
    Thanks
    75
    Thanked 38 Times in 27 Posts
    Put a tarp on it. That is what everbody around here does.
    YOSF (You Only Scrap Forever)
    YOLO (You Only Live Once)

  19. #14
    submarinepainter's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Maine
    Posts
    1,025
    Thanks
    1,230
    Thanked 654 Times in 316 Posts
    I would report it to the police and when caught press charges
    Old dogs care about you even when you make mistakes;
    God bless little children while they're still too young to hate

  20. #15
    GeorgeB's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Manassas Park, VA
    Posts
    2,919
    Thanks
    462
    Thanked 639 Times in 432 Posts
    If it is the same people write their tag numbers, and tell them that they been told numerous times, and now your calling the cops and they can explain to the cops just how dumb they are.
    George Beale - Founder & President - info@viprecyclingjunkremoval.com
    VIP Recycling Junk Removal LLC - Premier Scrap Metal, Junk, & Electronic Recyclers!
    http://www.viprecyclingjunkremoval.com

  21. #16
    wayne's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Dec 2011
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    319
    Thanks
    117
    Thanked 265 Times in 127 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Mechanic688 View Post
    But if one of them gets hurt on it they can come back to sue you. These lawyers today will try to sue almost anyone.
    In the UK you have to be alive to sue.
    I know lying is wrong, but if the elephant man came in now in a blouse with some make up on, and said, "How do I look?" Would you say, bearing in mind he's depressed and has respiratory problems, would you say, "Go and take that blusher off you mis-shapened elephant tranny?" No. You'd say, "You look nice... John""

  22. The Following User Says Thank You to wayne for This Post:


  23. #17
    admin's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    684
    Thanks
    336
    Thanked 2,630 Times in 549 Posts
    If you put up signs, fence in the containers, etc (containing your property), they are breaking the law and stealing from you.

    You have only two options really,

    1 - Improve your security so either a) scrappers can't get in or, b) scrappers are more reluctant to try.

    2 - Find a way to catch them in the act if it DOES happen (whether via cameras or via a $10 an hour security guard etc), you can take action on it and at the very least try to recoup what you lost.

    It's just one of those things, people steal, people lie, people are inconsiderate, and all of it costs us money. All you can really do is learn and become better at prevention.

    You can also make your local authorities aware, tell them it's happening frequently and they may have an officer in that zone try to keep an eye on it.

  24. The Following 3 Users say Thank You for This Post by admin:


  25. #18
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    224
    Thanks
    27
    Thanked 224 Times in 66 Posts
    Putting up signs that state the area is under surveillance, even though it's not, will deter some and will make others wear a mask... Add a fake camera to make it more real.... Add on there any trespassing will be prosecuted.

  26. #19
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Rochester NY
    Posts
    615
    Thanks
    19
    Thanked 526 Times in 238 Posts
    As stated above.

    1. Weight your fence down with heavier items so it cant be moved.
    2. Lock the fence with a lock
    3. Fence off just the dumpster with barbwire fence
    4. Add security, Camera's and signs do go a long way. As do a very well lit area. People are very reluctant to go into an area that they can be spotted.
    5. Spend a night or two in your truck watching for these people. As soon as you see them, dial 911 and call the police. Drive fast and try to pin them by parking right in front of their vehicle. Tell them not to move the police are on the way. Also a "Chic Chic" of a pump shotty stops most people in their tracks. If they run let them go. You now have their truck and it will be impounded.
    6. Never, ever ever give these people an inch. If you do they will take 10 miles.

    http://reclaimtech.com/
    We pay you to recycle!

  27. #20
    danielms's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Mar 2012
    Location
    mississippi
    Posts
    133
    Thanks
    71
    Thanked 31 Times in 25 Posts
    5. Spend a night or two in your truck watching for these people. As soon as you see them, dial 911 and call the police. Drive fast and try to pin them by parking right in front of their vehicle. Tell them not to move the police are on the way. Also a "Chic Chic" of a pump shotty stops most people in their tracks. If they run let them go. You now have their truck and it will be impounded.


    or you can just keep their truck, take it home and have some fun in it then cut it up and put it in said dumpster. presto fun had and money recovered, does not get much better than that.


  28. Similar threads on the Scrap Metal Forum

    1. Thoughts On This Connector?
      By Jeremiah in forum General Electronics Recycling
      Replies: 7
      Last Post: 12-01-2012, 04:43 PM
    2. Any Thoughts On Boats?
      By AKman in forum Vehicle Recycling
      Replies: 26
      Last Post: 08-05-2012, 06:35 PM
    3. truck poll...what is your thoughts on this?
      By easyrecycle in forum Tools and Equipment
      Replies: 24
      Last Post: 02-07-2012, 09:32 PM
    4. Your thoughts on this auction ?
      By bailey in forum Auction Talk
      Replies: 8
      Last Post: 09-12-2011, 08:50 AM
    5. New website, what are your thoughts?
      By Ewasted in forum General - Let's talk business
      Replies: 16
      Last Post: 08-16-2011, 06:32 AM

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 2 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 2 guests)

 
Browse the Most Recent Threads
On SMF In THIS CATEGORY.





OR

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

The Scrap Metal Forum

    The Scrap Metal Forum is the #1 scrap metal recycling community in the world. Here we talk about the scrap metal business, making money, where we connect with other scrappers, scrap yards and more.

SMF on Facebook and Twitter

Twitter Facebook