Metal Scrappers and Thieves : Scavenging for Survival and Profit

Annotation This book explores the little-known world of scrappers and metal thieves. Benjamin F. Stickle bases his study on field research collected while traversing communities with thieves and scrappers. Drawing on candid interviews, observations of criminals at work, and participation in the scrapping subculture, the volume describes the subculture of scrappers and identifies differences between scrappers and metal thieves. Through the offenders' perspective, often quoting their candid responses, Stickle explores the motivations for metal theft as well as the techniques and methods for successfully committing theft. The book discusses how these methods and techniques are learned and identifies ways--often through the thieves' own words--to prevent metal theft. Throughout the book, Stickle also challenges common assumptions about this community and identifies wider policy implications Foreword 6 Acknowledgments 9 Contents 11 List of Figures 14 Part I: Introduction to Scrapping 16 Chapter 1: Introduction 17 1.1 Why Scrapping and Metal Theft? 17 1.2 Recycling in the United States 19 1.3 Metal Theft: The Emerging Crime Type 24 References 27 Chapter 2: Approach 29 2.1 Data Collection Methods 29 2.1.1 Observation 30 2.1.2 Participation 32 2.1.3 Interviews 32 2.2 Field Setting and Respondents 34 2.2.1 Field Settings 34 2.2.2 Demographics 34 2.3 Getting In 35 2.3.1 Establishing Trust 36 2.3.2 “I Checked You Out”: In with the Thieves 37 2.3.3 “Oh, There’s the Gun”: In with the Yards 38 2.4 Data Analysis and Presentation 40 References 42 Chapter 3: Taxonomy of Scrappers and Metal Thieves 44 3.1 What Is Scrapping and Metal Theft? 44 3.2 Taxonomy 45 3.2.1 Subsistence Scrapper 46 3.2.2 Scrapping Professionals: Metal Is Their Business 50 3.2.3 Professionals Who Scrap: In the Course of Business 54 3.2.4 Philanthropic Scrappers 57 3.2.5 Metal Thieves 59 3.3 Summary 61 References 62 Chapter 4: Scrappers as a Subculture 63 4.1 The Scrapper’s Code 63 4.1.1 Territorial Issues 67 4.1.2 Not a Thief 69 4.1.3 Ask First 73 4.2 A Cohesive Community 76 4.2.1 At the Yard 76 4.2.2 On the Streets 80 4.2.3 When in Need 82 4.3 No Honor Among Thieves 85 4.4 Summary 88 References 89 Part II: Primer on Metal Theft 90 Chapter 5: History, Harms, and Prevalence of Metal Theft 91 5.1 Primer on Metals 91 5.2 Autopsy of an Epidemic: Why Metal Theft Rates Increased 92 5.3 Prevalence of Metal Theft 95 5.3.1 Council of State Governments 96 5.3.2 National Insurance Crime Bureau 96 5.3.3 Indianapolis Metal Theft Project 99 5.3.4 Rochester, New York 100 5.4 Costs and Harms to Society and Individuals 101 5.4.1 Direct Costs 101 5.4.2 Indirect Costs 104 5.5 Summary 108 References 109 Chapter 6: What We Think We Know About Metal Thieves 113 6.1 The Drug Hyperbole 113 6.1.1 Government Reports 114 6.1.2 Chief Security Officer Magazine 115 6.1.3 Senate Subcommittee Hearing 117 6.1.4 National Insurance Crime Bureau 118 6.1.5 Drug Hyperbole Conclusion 118 6.2 Opportunistic Thieves 119 6.3 Calculated Thieves 121 6.4 Drug User, Opportunistic, or Calculated? 123 6.5 Price-Theft Hypothesis 123 6.5.1 National Insurance Crime Bureau 125 6.5.2 Rochester, New York 125 6.5.3 British Railway Network 126 6.5.4 Price-Theft Hypothesis Conclusion 127 6.6 Spatial Analysis 128 6.7 Summary 128 References 129 Part III: Metal Thieves in Their Own Words 131 Chapter 7: Metal Thieves 132 7.1 Defining Metal Theft 132 7.2 Who Are the Metal Thieves? 133 7.3 Motivation for Theft 135 7.3.1 Scrappers Drifting into Theft 135 7.3.2 Criminal Enjoyment 137 7.3.3 Metal Theft Profits 145 General Expenses and Bills 146 Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco 147 Play Money 149 Profit Conclusion 150 7.4 The Price-Theft Hypothesis as a Motivator 150 7.5 Summary 152 References 153 Chapter 8: Techniques and Methods of Metal Thieves 154 8.1 Spatial Analysis 154 8.1.1 Place and Ease of Access 155 8.1.2 Quantity and Quality of Metal 156 8.1.3 Lack of Guardianship 156 8.1.4 The Role of Recycling Centers 157 8.1.5 Spatial Analysis Conclusion 158 8.2 The Place 159 8.2.1 Identifying Targets 159 8.2.2 Casing and Planning 163 8.3 The Theft 164 8.3.1 Frequency and Time of Day 165 8.3.2 Repeat Victimization 166 8.3.3 Tactics, Tools, and Transportation 168 8.4 The Exchange 169 8.4.1 Criminal Exchange 170 8.4.2 Surreptitious Exchanges 172 8.4.3 Trusted Sales 175 8.5 Summary 177 References 178 Chapter 9: Theft Partnerships and Learning 181 9.1 Metal Theft Partnerships 181 9.1.1 Going It Alone 182 9.1.2 Through Thick and Thin 185 9.1.3 Criminal Enterprise 186 9.2 How Thieves Learn 190 9.2.1 From Each Other 190 9.2.2 At Work 191 9.2.3 Trial and Error 195 9.3 Summary 198 Chapter 10: Social Controls of Metal Thieves 200 10.1 Direct Control 200 10.1.1 Dogs 201 10.1.2 Cameras 201 10.1.3 Witnesses 203 10.1.4 Law Enforcement 206 10.2 Indirect Control 208 10.2.1 Other Thieves 208 10.2.2 Family and Friends 209 10.3 Internal Control and Neutralization 212 10.3.1 Suspending Norms 213 10.3.2 Justification 215 10.3.3 Appealing to Higher Loyalty 217 10.4 Summary 218 References 219 Chapter 11: Conclusion and Implications for Public Policy 220 11.1 Significant Findings 221 11.1.1 Scrappers versus Metal Thieves 221 11.1.2 Metal Thieves and Motivation 221 11.1.3 Metal Thieves’ Techniques and Methods 222 11.1.4 Metal Thieves’ Social Controls 223 11.2 Policy Implications 224 11.2.1 Implications for Law Enforcement 226 11.2.2 Implications for Legislators 227 11.2.3 Implications for Recycling Centers 228 11.3 Summary 229 References 230 Index 231 Front Matter....Pages i-xviii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Introduction....Pages 3-14 Approach....Pages 15-29 Taxonomy of Scrappers and Metal Thieves....Pages 31-49 Scrappers as a Subculture....Pages 51-77 Front Matter....Pages 79-79 History, Harms, and Prevalence of Metal Theft....Pages 81-102 What We Think We Know About Metal Thieves....Pages 103-120 Front Matter....Pages 121-121 Metal Thieves....Pages 123-144 Techniques and Methods of Metal Thieves....Pages 145-171 Theft Partnerships and Learning....Pages 173-191 Social Controls of Metal Thieves....Pages 193-212 Conclusion and Implications for Public Policy....Pages 213-223 Back Matter....Pages 225-227