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Copper Thieves Jeopardize US Infrastructure

Posted by timothy on from the reloaders-all-well-aware dept.

coondoggie supplies an excerpt from Network World that might make you consider a lock for your pipes: "The FBI today ratcheted up the clamor to do something more substantive about the monumental growth of copper theft in the US. In a report issued today the FBI said the rising theft of the metal is threatening the critical infrastructure by targeting electrical substations, cellular towers, telephone land lines, railroads, water wells, construction sites, and vacant homes for lucrative profits. Copper thefts from these targets have increased since 2006; and they are currently disrupting the flow of electricity, telecommunications, transportation, water supply, heating, and security and emergency services, and present a risk to both public safety and national security." (A July, 2006 post on Ethan Zuckerman's blog gives an idea of how widespread cable theft has affected internet infrastructure, and basketmaking, in Africa.)

7 of 578 comments (clear)

  1. Unsuprising by ShieldW0lf · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    The fucked up political-economic system gives them a motive. Everything else is inevitable from that point.

    --
    -1 Uncomfortable Truth
    1. Re:Unsuprising by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

      I'm sorry, but how the fuck is this flamebait? This seems very apt, as this is what is causing an increase in this theft. People are starting to lose their jobs and money in all sorts of ways. Desperate people do desperate things. For those living in the fantasy land of never having to be poor for nearly their whole life growing up, I could well imagine they'd take offense to this.

      The reality is, this is exactly why this theft is taking place.

  2. Re:Special license... by Z00L00K · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Maybe it's time to consider copper theft an act of terrorism?

    At least in the cases when infrastructure is threatened.

    --
    If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker would destroy civilization.
  3. This Criminal Has Jeapadized MORE Infrastructure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Read more about the world's MOST dangerous person.

    Cordially,
    Kilgore Trout

  4. Re:Special license... by Korexz · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Mexican's won't get a drivers license... do you think they will get a scrappers license? I'm going to say NO.

  5. Re:Special license... by k1e0x · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    Some people consider copper a cheep metal.. I mean hea, our pennies are made of it right? Would you leave silver pipes laying around?

    It's not the government job to track all the copper, or silver, or gold, or cars, or anything else someone may steal and it's primarily YOUR job to protect your OWN property by locking it up.. and honestly.. this is really the only way, if anyone out there does not believe me.. stop locking up your car in that bad part of town and see how long it takes to get stolen.. then see how "concerned" the police are about getting it back.

    --
    Bringing liberty to the masses. - http://freetalklive.com/
  6. Re:Special license... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Well, we all know WHO is behind the majority of these copper thefts, don't we...
    It's our 'equal' friends, the blacks...

    The blacks, who destroy every white area they move into, in every white country on Earth.

    The blacks, who bring crime, misery, selfishness and stupidity, everywhere they go.

    Anybody care to prove me wrong?