When will this end! Scrappers Rob Cemeteries

**p69rrh51** · December-09-12, 03:19 AM

Now the scrappers are robbing cemeteries!

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/20297018/scrappers-target-historic-detroit-cemetary

**Dexlin** · December-09-12, 05:02 AM

"Now"? lol

**mikefmich** · December-09-12, 08:07 AM

"Effin idiots. Few things get me riled more than cemetery vandalism.

**DetroitPlanner** · December-09-12, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by mikefmich

"Effin idiots. Few things get me riled more than cemetery vandalism.

Its not vandalism, it is theft. If there was nothing of value they would most likely let it sit. The result however is the same.

**EZZ** · December-09-12, 08:14 AM

Why is it you never hear about scrappers nor the companies where they cash in getting busted?

**Detroit_uke** · December-09-12, 08:21 AM

Like EZZ said - why isn't somebody going after the companies that buy the scrap????? Buried or cremated - it really doesn't make a difference - we've read stories about urns with ashes being stolen...no respect for the living....no respect for the dead....Tell you one thing, i sure wouldn't mess with the dead...Karma's coming!!!!

**mikefmich** · December-09-12, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

Its not vandalism, it is theft. If there was nothing of value they would most likely let it sit. The result however is the same.

Like hair splitting? Tomato potato...and actually both.

JVB · December-09-12, 08:48 AM

Some people have no respect for the living, why be surprised that they have no respect for the dead?

**Honky Tonk** · December-09-12, 08:53 AM

"Its not vandalism, it is theft. If there was nothing of value they would most likely let it sit. The result however is the same."

Let's start a 2 mile long thread on whether it's vandalism or theft.

Originally Posted by EZZ

Why is it you never hear about scrappers nor the companies where they cash in getting busted?

Cops or someone higher up getting paid off?

**gnome** · December-09-12, 09:32 AM

Gates locked. Brass doors weigh more than your average door. How do transport brass doors without having vehicle access?

You don't.

unless the perimeter is compromised, I would suspect the guys running the place are doing the dirt.

**davewindsor** · December-09-12, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by EZZ

Why is it you never hear about scrappers nor the companies where they cash in getting busted?

Please enlighten us as to how you bust a scrap yard???

Scrappers show up at a scrap yard with a pickup of metal and say it was a legitimate removal. The yard registers their driver's license and pays them for the metal. Midland was busted and shut down earlier this year for accepted stolen cars without registration, but how do they tell if a pipe or gate was stolen or not? It's not like there are serial numbers stamped into cast iron pipes and registered with the police.

As for scrappers getting busted, have you ever heard of google? There's hundreds of busts. Here's one where six men were caught dismantling a city owned building at State Fair and Hoover this year and charged with intent to steal, a five year felony. http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/local_n...-in-hand-cuffs Police confiscated 4 trucks and several cutting torches.

Here's another where 22 scrappers were arrested so far scrapping the vacant fire damaged Robson Academy http://detroit2020.com/2012/06/07/va...et-old-school/

I could go on and on posting hundreds of links of scrappers getting busted from a simple google search, but why should I if you're too damn lazy to google it?

**Honky Tonk** · December-09-12, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by gnome

Gates locked. Brass doors weigh more than your average door. How do transport brass doors without having vehicle access?

You don't.

unless the perimeter is compromised, I would suspect the guys running the place are doing the dirt.

Good assumption. Still the question begs who's buying this stuff and why does it continue unchecked?

**313WX** · December-09-12, 09:57 AM

That's ok, Bing's opening mini-stations! That'll stop these mean ol' scrapper!!!

**Honky Tonk** · December-09-12, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by 313WX

That's ok, Bing's opening mini-stations! That'll stop these mean ol' scrapper!!!

Only if they scrap during our normal business hours, 9-5, M-F. Your call is very important to us, if your call is after our normal hours of operation, please leave a detailed message after the beep.

**Wheels** · December-09-12, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

Only if they scrap during our normal business hours, 9-5, M-F. Your call is very important to us, if your call is after our normal hours of operation, please leave a detailed message after the beep.

At least they will know what hours they can scrap the stations!

**Honky Tonk** · December-09-12, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by Wheels

At least they will know what hours they can scrap the stations!

LOL! Now THAT would be headlines!

**EastsideAl** · December-09-12, 12:23 PM

A scrap yard buying a brass mausoleum door that weighs a ton knows damn well what they're buying and where it came from. The same with the many sculptures, historical plaques, and streetlight parts that have been scrapped around here. The excuse "how's the scrapyard supposed to know?" really only goes so far, and we've been WAY past that point for several years now.

**Honky Tonk** · December-09-12, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by EastsideAl

A scrap yard buying a brass mausoleum door that weighs a ton knows damn well what they're buying and where it came from. The same with the many sculptures, historical plaques, and streetlight parts that have been scrapped around here. The excuse "how's the scrapyard supposed to know?" really only goes so far, and we've been WAY past that point for several years now.

You're right, of course. But this is partly Detroit residents fault. Until they demand better and accountability from City leaders, the status quo is just going to go on. Worse, the story will inspire new would be scrapper wanna-be's to try pulling the same stunt @ other cemeteries. I rememeber reading a story a few years back, where former residents were having loved one's remains exhumed and moved to cemeteries outside of the City because they felt unsafe coming into Detroit and being alone in the cemetery. Just no respect, and a sad state of affairs.

**piczka** · December-09-12, 01:10 PM

These are poor, homeless people just looking for a place to lay their head. All we need to do is extend their entitlements and everything will be fine. They mean no harm and are just looking out for all their illegitimate children so that no child goes without this holiday season.

**Kathleen** · December-09-12, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

... I rememeber reading a story a few years back, where former residents were having loved one's remains exhumed and moved to cemeteries outside of the City because they felt unsafe coming into Detroit and being alone in the cemetery.

I heard that sentiment just last night! A friend says she is no longer comfortable visiting family plots in Evergreen Cemetery. And when she inquired in the office there about security and safety and longterm upkeep, nobody wants to talk to her.

**SWMAP** · December-09-12, 04:05 PM

When will all end? I feel the same as I observe every building in SW Detroit covered in increasingly sweeping tags, huge swaths of paint now several feet high covering buildings and streetscapes that stood dignified and quiet for a century. Now they are ugly cartoons. When will it end?

**Zacha341** · December-09-12, 04:19 PM

The scrappers know it's stolen stuff and probably from where. Certain things are 'allowed' for expedience and greed... like how the casinos allow rows of seniors with double large oxygen tanks along side smokers and gratuitous match lighting!

Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

Good assumption. Still the question begs who's buying this stuff and why does it continue unchecked?

**internet_pseudopod** · December-09-12, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

You're right, of course. But this is partly Detroit residents fault. Until they demand better and accountability from City leaders, the status quo is just going to go on. Worse, the story will inspire new would be scrapper wanna-be's to try pulling the same stunt @ other cemeteries. I rememeber reading a story a few years back,

where former residents were having loved one's remains exhumed and moved to cemeteries outside of the City because they felt unsafe coming into Detroit and being alone in the cemetery. Just no respect, and a sad state of affairs.

Why should Detroit residents have to beg police to perform the most basic types of law enforcement? Protecting the structures that house people and businesses is only common sense. If there are no structures left for people to live in or to conduct business there will be no tax base with which to pay their salary.

**wolverine** · December-09-12, 05:57 PM

Your city and state laws make it easy for scrappers to steal.

You could just ban transportation of non-purchased metals altogether. Only individuals registered and licensed with the state or city would be able to perform that work [[like a contractor). A job number and address of the original location of materials would have to be shown at the scrapyard.

What this means is businesses or individuals that work with metals like contractors or auto repair mechanics are the only ones benefiting from recycled value.

Anyone else, such as myself, that doesn't work in these professions won't see a dime from any discarded metals I'm trying to get rid of. Oh well...who cares. Most of us don't do that. It's the poorest of the poor that travel around the city looking for anything that can be traded for value....except often times its stealing.

**EastsideAl** · December-09-12, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by wolverine

Your city and state laws make it easy for scrappers to steal.

There's also the little fact that scrap metal yards are tax-paying businesses, in a city that has a quickly declining number of them. And they have been known to contribute to the campaign funds of a few elected officials.

You literally hit a stone wall any time you complain about scrapping and try to get something done about it.