PORTLAND, Ore. — Metal thefts, particularly of copper, have surged in recent years across the Pacific Northwest, creating both economic and safety concerns.
At Calbag Metals, a recycling facility in Portland, procurement director James Cory has observed suspicious activity almost daily as individuals attempt to sell metal scraps for cash.
Cory noted that often, the items brought in are clearly manufactured parts rather than household scraps, indicating that they may have been stolen from businesses.
The rise in thefts is alarming, particularly as thieves are able to easily strip copper from wires and make quick profits.
Currently, copper prices hover around $4 per pound, meaning that a sizeable haul can fetch substantial sums.
Craig Tuckman, chief operating officer at Calbag, explained that just 300 pounds of copper could translate into approximately $1,200, urging the need for vigilance in the face of these ongoing thefts.
“We don’t want to be caught up buying stolen material from anyone; it’s just a liability and a risk,” Cory stated, highlighting the facility’s commitment to preventing such illicit transactions.
In an effort to combat these escalating thefts, Dan Chason oversees theft and vandalism prevention at CenturyLink, now known as Lumen Technologies.
Chason expressed his constant focus on the issue, noting a significant uptick in damage affecting infrastructure across the region.
He reported that thieves have been cutting the company’s cables to access the copper inside, creating disruption to service.
According to data from CenturyLink, Washington and Oregon rank as the top states for this type of metal theft.
So far this year, they have recorded over 370 instances of copper thefts in Washington and more than 140 in Oregon, marking a sharp increase from 79 incidents in the previous year.
Chason described the situation as a direct threat to critical infrastructure, underscoring the severe implications of these thefts.
When service cables are cut, the impact can be severe: outages can affect anywhere from 10 to 100,000 customers, potentially compromising public safety.
“For example, if someone falls and cannot call for help because their service is disrupted, it could lead to life-threatening situations,” Chason warned.
The lengths some individuals will go to steal valuable metal are alarming.
Chason attributed the thefts to a mix of motivations, including ease of sale and a desire for quick profits, particularly among those struggling with narcotics addiction.
In Northwest Portland, a man named John, who has been homeless for decades, shared his own experience with metal scrapping.
Surviving on the streets has meant learning to scavenge metal scraps to sell.
The earnings help him afford necessities like food and transportation.
“This is from a dumpster down the way, actually,” he explained, showing coiled copper from a recent find.
John usually scavenges during the night and sorts through materials during the day, collecting metal from old motors and other sources.
Calbag Metals, located near John’s camp, enforces a three-day waiting period before paying individuals for metal to allow for tracing the origin of the materials.
They also require identification from sellers as a measure to prevent accepting stolen items.
“We’re not going to accept material that is stolen,” Tuckman emphasized.
However, the lack of ID can complicate matters for individuals like John, who admitted that he doesn’t turn in metal often but relies on others to do it for him.
In response to the thefts, CenturyLink is relocating from copper wire to more unconventional materials in their cables and has begun to introduce GPS tracking in areas most affected by theft.
“We can’t stop it alone,” Chason concluded, urging community vigilance.
“If you see something, say something.”
image source from：kgw
