Scrap Yards and Metal Theft Insurance Claims in 51 U.S. Cities

By Kevin Whiteacre and Raeann Howes

The study found that scrap yard presence in a community was the factor with the strongest impact on metal theft rate; the more scrap yards a city has, the more metal thefts it may have. Other factors included burglary rates and manufacturing presence in a community. Findings state that metals theft provides an opportunity for cooperation between law enforcement and scrap yard operators to work together to reduce purchases of stolen metals and maintain the integrity of the scrap market. The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI), a member of the National Crime Prevention Council maintains a Theft Alert System that allows law enforcement to notify scrap yards when metal theft is reported. Police provide the estimated date and time of theft; location of theft; and a detailed description of the materials, including serial numbers and measurements; the investigating jurisdiction; a contact phone number; and the name of the investigating officer. This tool is available free of charge to any law enforcement agency and helps recyclers identify stolen material brought to their location. The Theft Alert System then sends this information via email to local scrap yards, allowing operators to identify material. The study is based on police reports and insurance claims.

Indianapolis: University of Indianapolis Community Research Center, 2009. 12p.