Thieving Scrappers!!! (Updated)

My Grandfathered was using a heavy (upwards of 3,000 lbs) cast iron equipment trailer that I inherited from my Great Grandfather and he left it at the farm which is common place. There's a house and quite a few sheds as well as a barn and a garage over there. Well, he went over there to get our tractor, but, the trailer had been stolen as well as an old plow that belonged to him. some A**hole thief went over there and took my trailer to sell for scrap. I haven't checked my yard as it's too late but that's the first thing I'm doing tomorrow. I can't believe the world has such scummy (not the word I wanted to use) people in it, that take other peoples hard-earned stuff.

Those aren't scrappers. Those are thieves.

Sorry on the loss Steel. Despite the time frame be sure to file a police report an contact your yard. The cops can get more info from the yard then you can unless your in real tight with them. Otherwise they can just tell you to go pound sand.

An yea..crappy thing. You can search to see my thoughts on such low life bastards. I'll spare everyone repeating my views on thieves.

Sirscrapalot - Thief's suck.

Well, I don't mind giving my opinion on the subject. Thieves are the lowest form of life on the planet. Even at the lowest point in life there is no excuse for taking what someone else has worked hard for. If you don't want to get out and work then sit on the street corner with a sign but taking away from someone who has put forth the effort is unforgivable. I am sorry you lost your stuff and I truly pray the individual or individuals get caught. Indeed, thieves do suck.

I'm sorry to hear about this. Karma will catch up with them.

It's hard pill to take when someone steals from you. I know how you feel. Take sirs advice file a report let them handle it. I've lived long enough to see karma pay people like that back. And it always brings a smile to my face.:)

there is nothing new under the sun. Solomon

its awful to hear these stories....stealing metal is bad in my area,,,,our govener made some laws that almost shut down all those pill mill doctors who were giving out strong drugs like tic tacks,,,,,everyone thought that was great...well now almost 3 years later heroine and crystal meth are destroying my town.....crystal meth was just brought in my immediate area in the last 2 years,,,i do believe those addicts are the worst of the worst......

i mean these meth heads are stealing everything thats not nailed down....and a lot of things that are nailed down.....i actually notice something missing from one of my fields at least once every 2 weeks,,,not to mention what gets packed off that i dont notice....im in an isolated spot and everything is so spread out its hard to watch everything....

,it is very hard to prove that you own scrap metal after it is stolen....it really helps to have the junk yard workers on your side

Yea..addiction is one of the main reasons why people do this. Meth, Pills, an Heroin, an crack tho I don't see that to often. Not sure why. All those are some serious addictions. Don't let the pills fool you, they are just as bad as Meth an Heroin, in my not so humble opinion, when they are abused.

An Harsas..I don't mind sharing my views on thieves, but..as the older members will tell you I've ranted on this subject many times in the past. So I'm just sparing them. ;) But for you new guys..Draw an quartering these kind of thieves is to kind.

Good thing I'm not the judge, or on the jury.

Sirscrapalot - Three groups spend other people's money: children, thieves, politicians. All three need supervision. - **** Armey

My friend lives in sw MO and meth heads are bad down there as well. To get up to his house, a person has to drive in a couple hundred yards. He told me that everybody that he doesn't know who shows up, he tells the same thing, no matter what their story is (mind you I don't think he shows up with gun in hand although he may have one riding on his hip or just inside the door).

He tells all these uninvited folks in a non-yelling but firm voice that he'll help them if if can (such as they're having car trouble) but if they're at his place casing it for later crimes and he catches them in the act, the law won't be called and the criminals won't be leaving the property-ever (he has about 40 acres of woods). He also makes it clear that his work hours aren't set and he can show up at any time. He also lets it be known in his community that he does a lot of shooting so people do know he has heat on the property. Maybe by chance but maybe because of this little speech, his place is about the only one that hasn't been hit in the area over the last couple of years. Maybe meth heads have a social network too and tell their buddies that this guy is unpredictable and there is easier pickings elsewhere. Seems to work for him...

I always found drawing a body outline in the drive way, some red paint an spent shells keeps the curious away.

Or Police tape around teh section of a yard, the body outline, an some spent shells.

I say shells for a reason. ;)

Sirscrapalot - Solicitors will be shot. - A sign in one of my neighbor's yard. lol.

Honestly, my property is usually never robbed because of my Father's reputation. We live right next to each other, and the farm is only a mile down the road, so whoever did it was either an addict, a young guy who hasn't heard the stories, or he has a death wish. My Father is known not because he has started fights, but because he has ended them spectacularly. Anywho, I've typed up an extremely specific description of the trailer and I'm turning it in to the police and scrap yards tomorrow. I'm also hanging them up in the local restaurant (Yes, we only have one. LOL) and gas stations (two of those, only one is pay at the pump though.) I did have insurance on the trailer, so I'll be able to buy a new one if it isn't found, but, that trailer had a lot of sentimental value to me.

i had my own battle with addiction,,it took me a very long time but geuse what...i finally won....i also cant stand the thieves ,,,i reckon where i had a very bad addiction problem myself it bothers me more to see all the stealing and drug abuse than it does the average person,,,,im not sure i worded that right,, ill give an example that really happened

i get a call saying some girl is loading up my stuff, hurry go get her before she gets away....so i go to my lower field to find a 17 year old girl loading her dads truck up with my metal....she ran and hid when i pulled up...well i knew the truck cause i was friends with her dad....well i finally got her to come out,,,i made her unload the truck,,and i actually drove her home in her dads truck....we talked on the way..i was already past the screaming and hollering part...anyhow i felt so bad that she was in this shape it really hurt me,,,,after talking with her dad i found out she was on meth and had been for about 3 years.....after i got home i was almost in tears..i mean i remember when he brought her home from the hospital the day she was born

i geuse what i mean is after the initial getting mad part of getting my stuff stolen, once i see a young person who is going through stuff like i also went through , it hurts my heart...i told my wife the other day, i wish i could lay my hands on kids and make them experience all the horrible things ive felt, saw , and done..back before i was better......i am not trying to excuse drug use or stealing..i think we need stricter laws.....

the way i feel about it is if a person is young and they get hooked on that junk and they mess up then they need punished...but in a different way than the current system does......everything is backwards where i live....a young person can become an addict,,,then committ several petty crimes over 3 or 4 years before they get in any real trouble....then after all the slaps on the wrist they finally get sent off and get a felony record and go to prison to learn to be a better junky and thief...prison only fixes a few select people...it makes most worse

in my opinion the young addict who has never been clean and had a second chance is the ones who deserve to have a chance,,,these are the ones who i can identify with somewhat, and it hurts me to see them ruin there lives.....i think the first time they catch them stealing they should be put in an intensive LOCKDOWN rehabilitation program, and it should be for at least 1 to 2 years depending on there crime and there addiction....in my opinion they need a mixture of the scare of real prison with the benifits of rehabilatation programs, therapy, job training, and general people skills.....

i hate the fact that they let them go and go and go untill they are ruint before they try and do something with them....now after they have been given that chance and they repeat offend,,in my opinion thATs the time to forget about rehab and programs and just box em up in prison...

i know what it boils down to is that you have to want to get help before you can get helped.....Ive had this on my mind latley ,,ive lost several friends and family members due to drugs and alchohol over the years,,,i just lost another cousin 2 weeks ago, he was 1 month older than me.....we got are laborors union books on the same day.....he gave his up and took to thieveing and such,,,,he has been in and out of prison all his life......he overdosed on crystal meth, whiskey and valiums the other day....he left 2 lovely kids , a mom, dad, and 2 sisters behind...anyhow..i just wish folks could see the light and want more out of life for there selves

Thanks for your story!! On the other side of the coin, meth heads are people too, and if you believe like me, God still loves them and wants them to get right. Its that fine line walking between self defense and love thy neighbor that's no easy day. A tough act to actually walk...

Your possibly going to discover what I did . See regular guys like us
we sell to yards and the yards are our friends
WHY ? cause we have great personalities ? we dress well ?
um nope ! we sell them stuff that they make a profit on .
You think you need weight ? The yards have bids to reach and quotas .
They ask no questions - bring in the metal - they shred the metal .

If cops show up yes they will cooperate they have to . But my friend we are just scrapper guys and when you are on the side of the fence that was taken from - you will get a aww that sucks . and thats about it

Sure I've been down your path and all you can do is except it and keep the memory of item in your head
for prosperity . Be on Gard cause more will be taken .
Possibly more is gone you just have not noticed yet, take a good look around . Tools are prime also .

Make sure you dot your Is and cross the Ts. You likely won’t get your trailer back or even the money that it was worth but you may just get this guy or girl cuffed and collared. We’re all (the honest ones) in this together and you’re only helping someone else down the road if you help nail this thieving bastard to the wall.

Personal anecdote: We’re working on building ourselves to a legitimate business. I have a sign out in front of the house, signs on the trucks, business cards, etc. But there are other scrappers around that are obviously just looking for a quick buck here and there. Well, one of these guys who I’ve never been too fond of is buddy-buddy with the daughter of the folks that moved in across the street. (Actually, more than buddy-buddy if you catch my drift…but anyways…). One night, we noticed his truck was parked in front of their place and our trucks were loaded with scrap from a big job we had just done. Now, I strapped all of this short steel down TIGHT because I don’t want anything rolling off while I’m heading to the yard. Wake up in the morning and the ratchet strap is loose and off of the top of the pile. And it wasn’t just slipped off…it was intentionally loosed. I know this because when I slipped it back on, it had a lot of slack. Nothing was missing from the truck that we could tell but somebody definitely messed with it.

Now I can’t pin it on this guy but I leave some “bait” out from time to time. One of these days, he’s going to get greedy and the cops will be called. And buddy, if you’re reading this, know that we’re watching you.

I was robbed of much scrap (mainly unprocessed) by two former students of the high school where I teach. They knew when I was at work and took the metal in broad daylight. They bragged about it, neighbors saw them and could ID them so I thought the police could do something. WRONG.... BTW, these 2 are known addicts

Check craigslist, check any other things for sale around you. You can not infer it was taken for scrap metal. Hope you catch em! You can buy fake ball cameras on eBay for $8 ea. and that will scare em off

I work at a residential drug treatment home, our residents are all boys 14-18 sent to us by the juvinile justice system. I've watched as residents have gone through our program and it just breaks my heart to see so many lives so messed up by drugs and alcohol. Some things that I've learned are 1. the treatment is only successful if the individual wants to change. 2. addicts don't think like normal people. 3. addicts are masters of manipulation and they are only interested in getting high, regardless of the price.

I've worked with some "good kids" and some who will be dead or in prison for life before they are 20. Two kids stand out, one played the game went through the treatment graduated the program, got his GED while in the program he went to court was released from the program and 6 hours later was in the hospital for an OD, and then was sent to another program, if he screws up in the program he's in now he'll be in the adult justice system. The second kid who I got to know had been in the system since he had been 11, he's now 14, has been a heavy user of just about every drug known. He told me that he had been charged with 46 felonies, I checked, amazingly he hadn't lied, he will never be anything other than a hard core criminal. He has no useful skills, he has no education, and no desire to get out of the gang lifestyle. He told me that he doesn't expect to live past 25. While these two individuals are towards the more extreme end to the spectrum this is what I deal with on a daily basis.

Scrapping helps out on several levels, learning valuable skills, helping make ends meet and getting to break things to let off a little (or sometimes a lot) of steam.

screw the fake cameras, buy some that are working. it's what i do from 8-5, i can give you any advice you need on that sort of stuff, you can put a camera anywhere you can get power to, and network it. PM me anytime if you need to know anything.

Ask me no questions I'll tell you no lies

The drugs really frustrates me. Around here we're in the country and drugs is huge. I come into class after noon hour, and see my class mates coming back from it high as a kite and reeking of marijuana. Some of these kids I have been friends with since I was young, one even from pretty much when I was born. I see so much potential in them, and I get so frustrated to see it. On my senior basketball team, I'm the only one that doesn't drink, and one of 3 guys that don't do drugs. One guy on my team recently got into dealing. I haven't seen him for months, but when I do see him again I'm going to kick his ass and tell him to smarten up, I know hes better than that.

My school does jack **** about these people coming to school under the influence. They don't even bother disciplining them or anything. They just ignore it. Only twice to my knowledge have people been suspended for drugs, and they were both dealing, not just using. Drugs is one of the worst things in our society today, and hardly anything is done to fix it.