Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine
Post Number: 1653 Registered: 05-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 4:42 pm: | |
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=/20070515/NEW S01/70515025
quote:UPDATED AT 3:58 P.M. -- With copper theft on the rise nationally, DTE Engery officials today offered rewards for information leading to the arrests of people stealing or purchasing stolen copper. DTE says as often as twice a day they are having power outages caused by thieves who climb utility poles to steal copper from live electrical lines. “It’s not only a safety situation, but a service reliability issue as well,” said Scott Simon, DTE senior spokesman. |
Rrl Member Username: Rrl
Post Number: 814 Registered: 12-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 5:32 pm: | |
All I have to say is it takes balls to steal live electrical lines. |
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1
Post Number: 9174 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 5:33 pm: | |
I wonder if they can prove that they were desperate enough they will get a lenient sentence and job offers upon release. |
Paulmcall Member Username: Paulmcall
Post Number: 132 Registered: 05-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 8:02 pm: | |
Maybe enough of them will be electrocuted that this stupidity will stop. |
Diesel Member Username: Diesel
Post Number: 23 Registered: 01-2007
| Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 9:01 am: | |
These scrappers are relentless. A building under construction in the CBD just recently (last week) had a bunch of copper leads stolen right out of the new mechanical shafts. The purp's snuck in the building through a neighboring roof and cut holes in the mechanical shafts and meticulously cut and removed these thick 7/8" copper leads (expensive stuff) from the shafts. They even replaced the square holes in the shaft hoping that no one would notice and they could come back for the remaining 5 floors. The amount of thought that went into the theft is discouraging if that dedication could just be directed to something positive and productive... I know this is a topic discussed on here several times but I felt it necessary to tell that story. As an investor in the city and someone trying to help it's pretty discouraging to see these things happen. I'm glad to see DTE trying to do something to help the situation. |
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul
Post Number: 1010 Registered: 10-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 9:05 am: | |
You would like to think that possible 'sentance' of a death penalty would be enough of a deterrent. |
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine
Post Number: 1655 Registered: 05-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 9:11 am: | |
quote:The amount of thought that went into the theft is discouraging if that dedication could just be directed to something positive and productive... EXACTLY! some (not all) of these scrap jobs require some pretty industrious people to em pull off |
Bumble Member Username: Bumble
Post Number: 89 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 9:15 am: | |
If DTE started a campaign to take over the lighting system, city council and rabble rousers like Agnes Hitchcock would have a fit. Where are these people when DTE begins a campaign to do what the police department is supposed to be doing? Isn't DTE undermining local rule and a public held treasure like DPD? |
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1
Post Number: 9181 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 9:49 am: | |
quote:Where are these people when DTE begins a campaign to do what the police department is supposed to be doing? Isn't DTE undermining local rule and a public held treasure like DPD? Where does DTE say this is a Detroit specific problem? Is the majority in the city? Probably but not all of it. |
Islandman Member Username: Islandman
Post Number: 446 Registered: 08-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 9:55 am: | |
Diesel, What's a purp? If it's a hybrid of punk and perp, we are on the same page. |
Bumble Member Username: Bumble
Post Number: 90 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 9:58 am: | |
Okay, if DTE said started a campaign to take over the lighting in Midtown, city council and the rabble would have a fit. DTE is proposing to take the place of effective policing in Detroit. (We all know the suburbs love to privatize.) Where's the outcry? No outcry equals tacit admission of policing problem? |
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1
Post Number: 9184 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 10:06 am: | |
I don't know if that is the case anymore. I think the city wanted to talk with DTE in recent history but the system is so far gone that DTE didn't want to touch it. My understanding is that all new city lights are going on DTEs grid, not Detroit's grid. Can someone correct me if I am mistaken.
quote:DTE is proposing to take the place of effective policing in Detroit. (We all know the suburbs love to privatize.) Where's the outcry? No outcry equals tacit admission of policing problem? Again, where is this only in the city? They are trying to protect their assets across Metro Detroit. Way to make something a city vs. suburb issue when it was never mentioned. Your assumptions are a reach. (Message edited by jt1 on May 16, 2007) |
Bumble Member Username: Bumble
Post Number: 91 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 10:22 am: | |
It does not matter if the offer of a reward extends beyond the city's boundaries. It is offered in the city, no? If it is offered in the city, why isn't Queen Mother Watson calling this a racist ploy to undermine home rule? I know it part of the collective psychosis around here to think that everything that happens in Detroit also happens in the suburbs, but copper theft in Detroit is a pretty big problem. A city like Warren might be stretched thin, and might welcome DTE's involvement in its crime solving, but Detroit has 200 new officers on the street, so I don't see why we need the outside influence of a private corporation. |
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1
Post Number: 9185 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 10:28 am: | |
DTE is looking out for their assets throughout Metro Detroit. Why is that not sinking in? Why are you trying to make this a race or city vs. suburb thing? Are there security guards anywhere outside of Detroit? Why? People are protecting their property which is what DTE is trying to do throughout all of Metro Detroit. So your argument is that something is wrong because the city isn't complaining about a private company protecting their own assets? Your argument is extremely weak. |
Bumble Member Username: Bumble
Post Number: 93 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 10:45 am: | |
Who oversees scrap yards? |
Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk
Post Number: 741 Registered: 11-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 11:42 am: | |
I think DTE should hire bounty hunters. |
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine
Post Number: 1656 Registered: 05-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 11:58 am: | |
quote:A city like Warren might be stretched thin, and might welcome DTE's involvement in its crime solving, but Detroit has 200 new officers on the street, so I don't see why we need the outside influence of a private corporation. are those 200 officers assigned to the copper theft task force? (as if there was such a thing) (Message edited by gravitymachine on May 16, 2007) |
Bumble Member Username: Bumble
Post Number: 94 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 12:23 pm: | |
quote:are those 200 officers assigned to the copper theft task force? (as if there was such a thing) How many would such a team need? Since we have to start at "A," my previous question still stands: Who oversees scrap yards? |
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine
Post Number: 1657 Registered: 05-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 12:29 pm: | |
quote:How many would such a team need? i don't know, but obviously more than there are now |
Digitaldom Member Username: Digitaldom
Post Number: 627 Registered: 08-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 9:51 pm: | |
Jt1 you are correct.. anyone trying to make this a racist issue is WAY OFF.. this a problem of folks stealing copper simple as that.. DTE has had the greatest threats to there assets in Detroit.. Yeah my dad used to work for Detroit Edison and the city did come to them to take over the system.. after all the BS.. DTE said NO thanks.. Why are you all afraid of making this system private? I don't see street lights in Warren or Troy.. or otherwise? please explain what your scare is? |
Ja1mz Member Username: Ja1mz
Post Number: 39 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Thursday, May 17, 2007 - 5:05 am: | |
Here in Warren we have our city code enforcers working on Sundays giving 25.00 tickets if you put your garbage to the curb 15 minutes before 6:00 pm. I put mine out at 5:45 on a Sunday and received one. We have our "Garbage Task Force" mobilized, I'm assuming a "Copper Theft Task Force" is convening at this hour. |
Michmeister Member Username: Michmeister
Post Number: 182 Registered: 10-2006
| Posted on Thursday, May 17, 2007 - 12:14 pm: | |
If the victimized property isn`t an abandoned site, who pays for the replacement? Do insurance companies cover such damages? If so, why don`t they pitch in for additional policing? It would be a sensible investment to protect themselves from heavy claims from victimized insurees (is that a word? Y`all know what I mean). Just a thought. |
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge
Post Number: 450 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 - 9:36 am: | |
http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/my fox/pages/Home/Detail?contentI d=3275776&version=1&locale=EN- US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1. 1 Get them bastards! |
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine
Post Number: 1671 Registered: 05-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 - 9:39 am: | |
quote:Get them bastards! damn straight! |
Dougw Member Username: Dougw
Post Number: 1694 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Thursday, May 24, 2007 - 5:50 pm: | |
Kudos to Commander Autrey for his efforts in this crackdown! (He's the guy interviewed in the story.) |
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard
Post Number: 3195 Registered: 10-2004
| Posted on Thursday, May 24, 2007 - 5:56 pm: | |
Scrap prices took a big dive today, according to my neighbor whose daughter runs the office at one metal scrapyard. |
Dougw Member Username: Dougw
Post Number: 1695 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Thursday, May 24, 2007 - 6:21 pm: | |
Bumble -- Actually, JoAnn Watson was the councilmember who instituted additional rules for scrapyards to help fight copper theft. Of course, enforcement of said rules is usually the bigger problem, but I give her some credit on this issue. She's not as worthless as some of the other councilmembers. |
Hamtramike Member Username: Hamtramike
Post Number: 472 Registered: 12-2003
| Posted on Thursday, May 24, 2007 - 8:25 pm: | |
"But at the point I began to author these two ordinances, I had no idea the city was being looted." http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=/20070511/COL 10/705110335/1164 |