[MSN] The reaction from scrap dealers identified in the police investigation of stolen metal ranged from bemusement to outrage when they were contacted by The Vancouver Sun Monday.

[Museum Security Network Mailinglist]

Scrap dealers' response mixed over sting   

Doug Ward, Vancouver Sun
Published: Tuesday, June 06, 2006 

VANCOUVER - The reaction from scrap dealers identified in the police
investigation of stolen metal ranged from bemusement to outrage when they
were contacted by The Vancouver Sun Monday.

Davis Trading president Gabe Davis said he was shocked the police would
target his company.

"We only deal with major contractors and only take commercial amounts. We
buy Telus wire all the time. We buy from Rogers and Shaw as well," said
Davis who only learned of the sting Monday when TV crews arrived.

"They told us they caught us buying 8,000 pounds of wire. I mean who can
steal 8,000 pounds of wire? We don't deal with people coming to us with
shopping carts," he said.

"We only deal with reputable contractors -- we don't buy off the street.
This business has been around for 100 years and I'm not going to destroy it
by buying $50 worth of scrap," said Davis who said he would consult a lawyer
if the city attempts to take action against the company.

"I feel like I've been violated. I was shocked when we were linked to those
other companies."

Mark Babins, owner of MB Superior Scrap Metal, a small operation compared to
Davis Trading, said he was happy police were cracking down on metal theft
and said he would no longer deal with street people bringing in scrap. He
said the sting involved the police selling him some scrap wire, three grave
markers, and a smashed-up traffic light.

"When the grave markers came in my manager phoned and said he was suspicious
about them and I said to buy them so they wouldn't be sold down the road and
ground up. We decided to hold them in case they were stolen, and we still
have them," Babins said.

The sting took place a month ago and when he was called in to meet with city
officials he was told he should have known some wire that was brought in by
the police was likely stolen because the person selling it had a pair of
wire cutters sticking out of a backpack.

"What's that supposed to mean? People in this business have wire cutters,
they have hammers they have all sorts of tools. Having wire cutters doesn't
make you a thief."

In the past he has received what he believed was metal stolen from
commercial signs and has phoned the company and reported it.

City regulations state that persons buying scrap must check and record the
identity of the seller and keep a list of what was bought.

The police allegations were dismissed by Phil Watson, manager of North Star
Metal Salvage, one of the companies under review.

Watson said 99 per cent of the metal arriving in his yard on Powell Street
is from contractors, including electrical and plumbing firms. His company
ships the metal to Asia, primarily China.

Watson said stolen goods are taken to scrap metal companies, but the police
are unfairly "painting all yards with the same brush."

"If guys come in here and look suspicious, they're out of here. We've been
in business for 45 years. We're not about to risk our licence."

Dov Dimant, manager of Capital Salvage Co., also said it is difficult to
identify thieves.

Anthony Ryder, manager of GO Green Bottle Depot, said all his customers must
have identification in order to sell him metal.

dward at png.canwest.com

http://www.canada.com/