CHILLICOTHE - A railroad signal was likely the most recent target of the criminal interest in copper, as a railroad worker found heavy-gauge copper wires cut near Blue Ridge Road about 1:30 a.m. Sunday.
The wires were severed but not stolen, and a ladder and extendable pole cutter were found at the scene, according to a police report. The railroad worker told police he thought the victims were scared off by something and left before taking the wires. The signal, which is used to alert conductors to the presence of other trains, had 10 wires cut at its power shed.
A major motivating factor in these thefts is the current scrap price for copper and the fact that the wire is impossible to trace. About 25 years ago or so, a scrap metal thief was electrocuted while trying to steal copper wire from a Commonwealth Edison substation.
Copper scrap is almost like gold right now. I’ve been making a killing off of saving copper wires that we would usually just toss at work. It has been going for something like 1.20 a pound. I remember when it was 10 cents a pound and hardly worth it.
Something I have noticed is that railroads love to use direct burial cable instead of wires in conduit. I think that if the conductors were in heavy steel conduit (this would certainly be more expensive) it would go a long way to discourage vandalism. Instead of a cable cutters you would need a torch, or a sawzall with a REALLY good blade in it.
They could also cast the cables into concrete pedestals. This would prevent almost all tools available from cutting the cables. Of course it would be a maintenance headache if the cable failed and needed replacing, but it would certainly keep the thieves at bay.
I work for an electric utility. We have had people break into one of our yards, steal a dump truck and load it with the scrap copper we bring back from jobs. The bad part (sort of) are the pictures we see of what happens when these geniuses decide to steal copper from a working substations. There is no forgiveness when you become a ground to 115kV.
Part of my duty in the military was in an outfit that installed cable, among other things. I heard of installation teams in Korea that would bury a cable one day, only to return the next day to find it gone, with only the tracks of a team of oxen in it’s place…
In the aftermath of the monumentally messy two foot snow storm that knocked down so many trees, power, phone and cable lines, here in Mudville, USA there were a handful of thefts of dead wires from Verizon (Phone) and National Grid (power) Time Warner had some cut lines, but fiber optic lines have almost no scrap value. But, when a fiber optic line IS cut… Most of all, though, none of the thieves cut live lines. But, we’ll pay no matter what:-(
Last year two typical Alabama brain surgeons broke into a substation in Phenix City. They were after copper wire. One cooked; the other got injured badly. He then ended up in jail…
Not recorded is whether his brother’s last words were, “Hey y’all, watch this!”
Yeah, you’re right about the #1 price - but I don’t get that because I am not bringing in large cable. I’m bringing in small scraps of small wire - similar to picking up soda cans. Before it all got tossed, but now the stuff is worth its weight in gold. I get the insulated small wire price - which is about 1.20. If you see wire going out in the garbage, pick it up! It helps the enviroment and it actually can put a little money in the wallet.
This is quite a problem in scrap yards, and the reputable ones will call the cops. A number of stories have been told of guys bringing in large 6’ spools of copper with the plastic wrap still on the wire from the factory telling a story of how they “got it out of the dumpster” or they “picked it up on the side of the road”. The good yards call the cops when they see them pull in . The bad ones pay them and take the wire. The smart theives actually cut the wire into 4 foot chunks and take it to a good yard. Sometimes copper theft is awfully hard to prove.
Chillicothe - A Chillicothe-based railroad business reported the theft of 17 spans of copper wire Monday afternoon.
An employee with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Depot discovered about 4:30 p.m. that the spans of copper wire were missing.
The wire was reportedly taken from the railroad crossing at North Blue Ridge Road. Police also found heavy-gauge copper wires severed but not stolen at the same location early Sunday morning.
Value of the stolen wire is estimated at approximately $2,000.
Well, I saw a newsreport recently that quoted that it costs the government 1.2 cents to make each penny, even with the modern pennies!
THere is a move afoot to do away with the penny, and make the nickel the smallest coin. It wasnt clear if paper transactions (ie, credit card, check) would be required to round to the closest nickle, though. [2c](or is that 2.4?)
To no one in particular, taking a piece or two of scrap cable home every night from the local locomotive plant cost a friend his job, his pension, a fine, and a criminal conviction.