KPFT power lines cut?

[aunti-terrestrial]

Yes, a couple of years ago, someone was going around stripping the AC units from elementary school.

I love Keller Williams, but if you really do see a "Freeker By The Speaker," make her move away from the gear.

 

[Stormychuck]

Are the police aware that this is not the first similar theft from a transmitter site?

Copper theft is an epidemic. It's getting stolen continually from just about everywhere. I've personally had grounding stolen at 3 sites, and the innards of an air conditioning condenser stolen at one - twice - the second time from the roof of the building.

I have to agree with radiogooroo, copper theft is at an all time high nation wide, anything from street lights, industrial air conditioners, radio stations none of which appear to be off limits to copper thieves. No surprise there.

State legislators need to come up with a plan, change the laws, go after these recycling centers plain and simple, unless you can show proper ID that you are a licensed electrical contractor, a licensed plumber dealing in scrap copper products and your not this local copper thief pushing a shopping cart loaded down with stolen scrap copper up to the recycling office, you the thief will NOT GET PAID. Do I believe this is a total fix, of course not, it's a start, laws need to be put in place immediately and it starts with these recycling centers, maybe the recycling centers should be locked up for dealing in stolen property, as it stands now, anybody and everybody, without proper ID can drive up with a trunk load of stolen copper and cash in, no questions asked
its that simple, whats the fix you tell me?

 

[aunti-terrestrial]

More laws? Why not enforce the laws on the books? If I turn up a
roll of copper wire in my attic, there's no reason I should have to
prove where I got it. But if I break into someone else's property and steal theirs, there are already laws on the books to cover that crime.

If you walk into a pawn shop with a guitar, they don't make you play it to prove you're a musician.

 

[davideduardo]

More laws? Why not enforce the laws on the books? If I turn up a
roll of copper wire in my attic, there's no reason I should have to
prove where I got it. But if I break into someone else's property and steal theirs, there are already laws on the books to cover that crime.

If you walk into a pawn shop with a guitar, they don't make you play it to prove you're a musician.

The problem is that there are not unattended guitars hanging from poles and attached to the sides of buildings all over town.

 

[mrbeasley]

Actually, the way the state law was written (by an college intern working for a state legislator) bare copper is not a felony. However, coated copper is. So, many stations have gone to coating their copper strap and other exposed copper with undercoating, similar to that used under car bodies. This makes it worth less to the thief and also makes it a felony offense. Stealing an extension cord (since it's coated with rubber) is a felony.

It's a safe bet that no one ever called a radio engineer, electrician or plumber while they were writing the law.

trivia question... what kind of degree did the college intern have?

 

[Stormychuck]

Thank you Aunti and thank you Dave, Point taken, however if you walk into a pawn shop with a guitar and in order to pawn it, you must show ID, pawn shops cover their butts, but I never said I had the fix, but here too in Florida radio stations are being trashed on a daily basis by these thugs, but all of this is just food for thought.

 

[aunti-terrestrial]

Guitars are stolen at gigs when musicians go to the bathroom. It's fairly common to get a message from a friend whose entire van has disappeared from the hotel
parking lot while they are sleeping. Yes, pawn shops cover themselves, but not out of their desire to deter crime per se; if an amp is confiscated to be returned to its rightful owner, the pawnbroker loses money. That's why they need your ID and often thumbprint to make a deal.

If I go out of town and I don't want my gear stolen from
my home while I am away, I hire a housesitter.

There's no budget for a live person to watch the transmitter site? How much does it
take out of the budget for repairs to the transmitter, or each business day without a signal?

Copper wire theft is a unique problem, but it's not unique to radio. Some industries have already be become proactive in protecting their copper. Others are still targets.

 

[Sgt. Hans G. Schultz]

Yes, pawn shops cover themselves, but not out of their desire to deter crime per se; if an amp is confiscated to be returned to its rightful owner, the pawnbroker loses money. That's why they need your ID and often thumbprint to make a deal.

En Texas, NEIN!!! Der legal owner must pay der balance due on der
pawn ticket to get der property back! Das ess der suckomundo!