Safe Detroit

We’ve all seen the pickup trucks and other vehicles around the city collecting scrap metal to sell to the scrap yards. This is a good thing, if done legally and respectfully. It helps clean up the city and eliminates tons and tons of potentially dangerous metal from our streets.

The problem is when the scrap collection turns to theft and vandalism. Metal thieves are expensive to municipalities and dangerous to their residents. This is a huge problem costing the City and it’s residents millions of dollars each year.

Metal vandals are not unique to Detroit. Metal thieves are stealing bronze from graves in South Florida to actual power lines in Canada. From Belgium to Beijing, the demand for black-market metals are creating a dangerous and expensive market for criminals in urban cities around the globe.

Scrap metal is big business but, so far, metal scavenging isn’t. At least not here in Detroit and we need to get a handle on this before it becomes big business and impossible to control. Right now we have a bunch of, for the most part, addicts and alcoholics stealing everything from manhole covers to street lights. They have been ripping copper piping from abandoned homes and businesses while they’re closed at night. These are desperate low-lives that have no respect for Detroit’s people and are a danger to those around them. Theft of copper wires puts lives at risk. Metal piping removed from buildings can cause gas leaks and the potential of explosions.

So what should we do? I wish I had the answers. First, we need to take the problem seriously. Next we need to be true Detroit citizens and report the crimes when we see them. Know someone vandalizing homes, businesses or city property? Turn them in!

Opinions vary widely when it comes to solutions. Discussions include licensing, ordinances and scrap yard crack downs. Others insist stealing is already illegal and it’s a matter of catching the thieves and enforcing the laws already on the books. Personally, I believe a scrap yard excepting any obviously stolen materials should be held responsible. Fine them, shut them down or put them in jail, whatever is necessary. Extreme I know, but a solution needs to be found soon. Really, a pickup pulls up and starts dumping manhole covers, even busted-up covers? It shouldn’t take a rocket scientist to know where they were found. At that point the scrap scavenger should be turned into the police immediately.

What’s your opinion? I’d love to hear from you. Leave your comments below.

Report missing manhole covers: 313-224-0500

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Detroit Safe Streets Network, 224-4415
Citizens’ Radio Patrol of Detroit, 224-3270
24-hour hotline: 1-800-609-7487