If At First You Don't Succeed...
Scrappers have been a problem in our part (S/E) of Ft. Wayne for some time (as well as a national bane), and the police have been diligent in trying to halt these guys with nothing to do but break into a house (abandoned or not), and "relieve" themselves of any and all copper tubing, piping, wiring, etc.
I know for a fact that the companies that receive scrap metals are being monitored, and records of exactly "who" is dropping "what" off are being kept.
As to what effect that will be on these predatory lowlifes, no one can say just yet.
It is nice to note that one of my very few decent neighbors (those would be the ones that don't use drugs, sell drugs, or are involved in some other dubious activity about the area) managed to thwart a scrapping attempt yesterday. he even managed to get a partial plate number.
Damn shame I wasn't there, but I had nodded out, and my wife (bless her heart) didn't want to "wake me". I told her if something goes down around here, PLEASE wake me. I promise to not shoot first...lol! And yes, there are some people that wake up with an abruptness that might cause others to shy away. I knew one buddy in the military that must have had one helluva dream or flashback, because when his wife went to wake him, he tried to attack her. Yeah, some memories never really go away. Last time I saw him, he was doing great, and no further problems with his sleeping or waking.
But I digress...
Two FWPD cars came on scene (3 officers), and checked the property out. One car remained while NCE came to board up the window to the house,. How much that will keep these guys away, I don't know.
It wouldn't stop me, I do know that.
Using a STEEL PLATE would be a lot better (imho). I've seen boarded up houses around here (and we have way too many) that vandals have simply ripped the plywood away to get into a garage or the house itself.
(Ed. Note:) These two pictures shown were taken in MINNESOTA, just you get an idea of how much damage these guys can inflict.
Yeah, it's an ongoing problem down here (as are many, and which ALSO never get resolved).
Still, the two men (oh, I didn't mention...they were black) got away...for now.
One was in a dark minivan and he drove off. The other took off across the alley to the next street over (where the minivan probably looped around to meet him and pick him up).
And that's another issue we have in our area:
We have TOO many ways for the WRONG people to get away (I tend to prefer 3 ways OUT to one way INTO any situation).
By that, I mean very few properties have proper fences (we happen to have both wooden and chain-linked) on our block or the ones adjacent to our street. And people are ALWAYS meandering through, like it was their own PERSONAL pathway (which it apprently is). Then again, when you see too many people in vehicles using the alleys for "auxiliary streets", you wonder to yourself WHY this issue is another one that is NOT being addressed by law-enforcement, or some other city agency.
I recall a time when Dawn Ritchie (formerly head of Waste Management for the city) took a "tour" of the alleys, because the Serv-All trucks couldn't get the hell THROUGH. Well, we still have that problem. Some routes have been changed to STREET pickup, as the alleys are no longer navigable for the trash trucks.
And if trucks won't pick up trash in the alleys, guess what manages to accumulate there?
Right. TRASH.
Well, it IS a good place to "get lost" when you need to, as well as a great place to get a head job (already been witness to that), and it makes for an ideal place to transact drug deals (drop offs or pickups) especially after dark.
When you see strange vehicles that DO NOT belong on your block motoring up and down the alleys to all hours, that should send up a lot of red flags.
Well, it did to the FWPD...for a time.
Two years ago, an officer was just sitting in the alley, looking for people cutting through. I mentioned him in a former posting, so feel free to check the archives. Suffice it to say, I haven't really seen any officers since, aside from the infrequent drive through (when they're usually looking for someone of "interest"), which tells me that yet again, the police have returned to a more REACTIONARY stance, as opposed to being PROACTIVE.
I've said that the ONE thing we need around here is more ALLEY PATROLS, and I even went so far as to notify Captain Becher (our quadrant chief) that the house that was hit yesterday (which makes at least THREE within the past YEAR) WOULD be hit...and soon. I wasn't being prophetic in any way.
I just KNOW the (type of) people around here, and once you know that, you are WAY ahead of the game.
Now...will chasing away these scrappers make a difference? Well, in an ideal world, I'd have to say YES. But we're about as FAR from "ideal" as East is from West in that regard, so I will only state that it has put them "off their game"...for the time being. They WILL be back, and probably at night. That's what I would do. hell, I wouldn't have even TRIED to scrap a house in broad daylight. That must tell you these guys are DESPERATE...or stupid as a bag of rocks.
I know most of the "junkmen" pickups in the area, and they do the "routine", namely canvass the alley for anything people place out for trash. But they tend to come down the alley EVERY DAY, and that makes me wonder about them casing houses for occupancy or people that have left for WORK (THAT number is VERY FEW).
There are those that I believe are scoping "prospective" houses for scrapping, and let's face it, if you really wanted a CLASS operation, you would NEED eyes on the streets. And of course, you KNOW they already have cell phones, or 2-way radios and a police scanner, along with all sorts of cutters, and some good gloves to keep from getting cut.
Hell, if I ran a setup like this, I'd put a few people on the "payroll" checking out who's moved, who's at work, on vacation, how long people leave the house for, patterns of behavior (certain days people go places), and the like. And it would worth my while to toss a little green at those people I "employ" so I can have a much easier time getting in and getting out with all that precious metal.
Business is business, right?
But I will say that my neighbor sure gave these two scrappers THE business yesterday.
Let's hope that this type of dissuasion coupled with the knowledge that they MAY be under surveillance by someone at any time will be a good deterrent.
I know *I* will be watching and waiting for them.
I don't plan to "miss" them again.
(And I've been practicing my point shooting...just in case)
Like I say...helluva way to live, eh?