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Copper Thieves Turning Up Dead
Trying to strip copper from utility poles...
We've discussed how high copper prices have resulted in the theft of telecom lines, sometimes when they're still in use. Techdirt notes that two New Hampshire men were electrocuted while trying to steal copper wire from an unoccupied power plant. Recently, two people in Arkansas died after attempting to strip copper wire from utility poles. Driven by demand from China, copper prices increased 14% to $3.16 a pound in March.
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toby
Troy Mcclure
join:2001-11-13
Seattle, WA

1 recommendation

toby

Member

Sounds ok

Don't see the problem here . .

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: Sounds ok

said by toby:

Don't see the problem here . .
Me either. Saves the cost of prosecuting them. But I am sure their relatives will be suing the power company because the fence wasn't high enough or the site wasn't patrolled by guards, etc.

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

en102

Member

Re: Sounds ok

That would be the case if they were in California.

cableties
Premium Member
join:2005-01-27

cableties

Premium Member

Re: Sounds ok

...and NJ. I recall a Princeton U. student that climbed the fence to a NJ Transit train and climbed to the top of the car. Sued and won. He is, however, confined to a wheelchair. NJtransit picked up his tuition. Campus security, btw, found lots of "paraphernalia " in his dorm room at time of electrocution. Darwin -1

P92
@snet.net

P92

Anon

Re: Sounds ok

Confined to a wheelchair and also had his arms amputed at or near the elbows. That's what happens when you turn your entire body into a resistor.

I don't know what was in his dorm. However, he also brought suit against some clubs where he had been drinking that night (in one case, he and some friends had actually broken into the club after it had closed). I recall that these claims settled before trial.
MrBentor
join:2003-02-18
Seattle, WA

MrBentor to cableties

Member

to cableties
It is a shame that the student wan the lawsuit. NJtransit should have appealed the lawsuit.

peter_m
Premium Member
join:2005-07-13
Canada, QC

peter_m to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5
Also sounds like good nominations for the Darwin awards!

But then again, were they stupid and greedy or just desperate to get food on the table ?

OZZYHEAD
join:2000-08-24

OZZYHEAD to FFH5

Member

to FFH5
So right.
whocares0
Premium Member
join:2003-07-26
..

whocares0 to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5
said by FFH5:

said by toby:

Don't see the problem here . .
Me either. Saves the cost of prosecuting them. But I am sure their relatives will be suing the power company because the fence wasn't high enough or the site wasn't patrolled by guards, etc.
but lets seriously look at the good side of this,
the person stealing the copper,
( Copper Thieves Turning Up Dead
Trying to strip copper from utility poles).

I'am sure has been taught a valuable lesson & would even dare say,the thieves would probally PROMAISE,never to steal copper again
whocares0

whocares0 to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5
said by FFH5:

said by toby:

Don't see the problem here . .
Me either. Saves the cost of prosecuting them. But I am sure their relatives will be suing the power company because the fence wasn't high enough or the site wasn't patrolled by guards, etc.
but lets seriously look at the good side of this,
the person stealing the copper,
( Copper Thieves Turning Up Dead
Trying to strip copper from utility poles).

I'am sure has been taught a valuable lesson & would even dare say,the thieves would probally PROMAISE,never to steal copper again

n2jtx
join:2001-01-13
Glen Head, NY

n2jtx to toby

Member

to toby
Works for me! Better these guys off themselves than the taxpayers have to pay for a trail and incarceration.

On a similar note, it reminds me of the striking telco worker a few years ago who tried to sabotage a trunk line. He took a chain saw to what he thought was a trunk line covered by metal safety cover. Turned out to be a 13.6KV feeder line Unfortunately he survived and had his initial arraignment in a hospital bed!

peter_m
Premium Member
join:2005-07-13
Canada, QC

peter_m

Premium Member

Re: Sounds ok

Wonder if there are pictures of the explosion (not the body burns) ?

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
Netgear WNDR3700v2
Zoom 5341J

KrK to toby

Premium Member

to toby
said by toby:

Don't see the problem here . .
Heh. It would be even better if it said "Car thieves turn up dead" or "Home Burglars found dead" etc
Kearnstd
Space Elf
Premium Member
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

Kearnstd to toby

Premium Member

to toby
i wonder if you owned a ice cream shop could your insurance sue the family of the guy who fried because his attempt to steal copper caused a power failure.

if you lost product due to the loss of power.(many store owners who sell parishables insure against power loss).

Big Time
Pull My Finger
Premium Member
join:2002-10-19
Washington

Big Time

Premium Member

Re: Sounds ok

said by Kearnstd:

i wonder if you owned a ice cream shop could your insurance sue the family of the guy who fried because his attempt to steal copper caused a power failure.

if you lost product due to the loss of power.(many store owners who sell parishables insure against power loss).
Seeing as how you can pretty much sue anyone for anything these days, probably so. Getting it to court and a jury might be a different story.

Jim Gurd
Premium Member
join:2000-07-08
Livonia, MI

Jim Gurd

Premium Member

Thieves

Good.
B04
Premium Member
join:2000-10-28

B04

Premium Member

Steel Your Nerves

electrocuted while trying to steel copper
A quick fix to the above would be, er, elementary, as it were.



-- B

P.S. yes I know steel's not an element. Just testing my, er, mettle? I hope this doesn't leave a stain.

AnonProxy
Premium Member
join:2001-05-12

1 recommendation

AnonProxy

Premium Member

Fiber saves lives!

RA!

TScheisskopf
World News Trust
join:2005-02-13
Belvidere, NJ

1 recommendation

TScheisskopf

Member

I am afraid...

The Darwin Awards will have to create a whole new category of its structure to account for these flights of genius.

If you can't do the fryin', don't do the crime.

Bitey
Premium Member
join:2002-06-14

Bitey

Premium Member

We need to tell more junky thieves

...about this exciting new business opportunity!

Radio Active
My pappy's a pistol
Premium Member
join:2003-01-31
Fullerton, CA

Radio Active

Premium Member

Re: We need to tell more junky thieves

said by Bitey:

...about this exciting new business opportunity!
Let them find out for themselves...

RustyTheDog
Premium Member
join:2003-05-27
Trenton, NJ

1 recommendation

RustyTheDog

Premium Member

Shocking!

Ba-dum-dum

Radio Active
My pappy's a pistol
Premium Member
join:2003-01-31
Fullerton, CA

Radio Active

Premium Member

Re: Shocking!

said by RustyTheDog:

Ba-dum-dum
My thought, but you were first to say it...
Worg4
join:2005-03-06
Havertown, PA

Worg4

Member

We need that for cars

An electrocution alarm system for cars and houses (well, maybe just businesses) would be nice.

zoom314
join:2005-11-21
Yermo, CA

zoom314

Member

Thieves were Crazy to try & steal Live Electrical Cables

A few less thieves, They were dumb enough to try to remove Live copper high voltage cables, And they wondered why It's not an occupied installation? Cause the High Voltage kills If Its handled without the right tools, So It makes It It's own security, Unless the thieves are clueless and soon to be dead.

Ivybridge_I7
Cyber-Crime Researcher OpSec
Premium Member
join:2004-06-09
Daytona Beach, FL

1 edit

Ivybridge_I7

Premium Member

Re: Thieves were Crazy to try & steal Live Electrical Cables

said by zoom314:

A few less thieves, They were dumb enough to try to remove Live copper high voltage cables, And they wondered why It's not an occupied installation? Cause the High Voltage kills If Its handled without the right tools, So It makes It It's own security, Unless the thieves are clueless and soon to be dead.
I seen pictures on I think it was rotten.com with a guy in Russia going up a utility pole to steal copper wire. Once he touched the wire he became a crispy critter because of the kilo-volts involved.

The picture shows the guy hanging back off the pole with his arm completely toasted. It was a pretty graphic picture of what (electrocution) can do to you.

By the way it's not the voltage that kills you, it's the current involved.

I have been jolted badly in the past from one hundred and twenty volts. Keep in mind that AC voltage is usual measured in RMS (root means square). Actual AC voltage is calculated out at:(alternating current voltage x 1.414= peak voltage or peak voltage x two= peak to peak voltage)

zoom314
join:2005-11-21
Yermo, CA

zoom314

Member

Re: Thieves were Crazy to try & steal Live Electrical Cables

said by Ivybridge_I7:
said by zoom314:

A few less thieves, They were dumb enough to try to remove Live copper high voltage cables, And they wondered why It's not an occupied installation? Cause the High Voltage kills If Its handled without the right tools, So It makes It It's own security, Unless the thieves are clueless and soon to be dead.
I seen pictures on I think it was rotten.com with a guy in Russia going up a utility pole to steal copper wire. Once he touched the wire he became a crispy critter because of the kilo-volts involved.

The picture shows the guy hanging back off the pole with his arm completely toasted. It was a pretty graphic picture of what execution can do to you.

By the way it's not the voltage that kills you, it's the current involved.

I have been jolted badly in the past from one hundred and twenty volts. Keep in mind that AC voltage is usual measured in RMS (root means square). Actual AC voltage is calculated out at:(alternating current voltage x 1.414= peak voltage or peak voltage x two= peak to peak voltage)
Yeah It's not a nice way to go and I've been jolted once by a live 120vac wire once, But only once.

Ivybridge_I7
Cyber-Crime Researcher OpSec
Premium Member
join:2004-06-09
Daytona Beach, FL

Ivybridge_I7

Premium Member

Re: Thieves were Crazy to try & steal Live Electrical Cables

said by zoom314:
said by Ivybridge_I7:
said by zoom314:

I seen pictures on I think it was rotten.com with a guy in Russia going up a utility pole to steal copper wire. Once he touched the wire he became a crispy critter because of the kilo-volts involved.

The picture shows the guy hanging back off the pole with his arm completely toasted. It was a pretty graphic picture of what execution can do to you.

By the way it's not the voltage that kills you, it's the current involved.

I have been jolted badly in the past from one hundred and twenty volts. Keep in mind that AC voltage is usual measured in RMS (root means square). Actual AC voltage is calculated out at:(alternating current voltage x 1.414= peak voltage or peak voltage x two= peak to peak voltage)
Yeah It's not a nice way to go and I've been jolted once by a live 120vac wire once, But only once.
The alternating voltage that comes out of your electrical outlet is real not 12O VAC it's '169.68' (peak) VAC at the top of the sine wave. This is why you get the rapid jolting (60 hertz per second),pain-full feeling when you touch the connection and short to ground though your body.

The 120 volts(AC) is just the average, use-able part of the sine wave. It's the root-means-square of the sine wave.

zoom314
join:2005-11-21
Yermo, CA

zoom314

Member

Re: Thieves were Crazy to try & steal Live Electrical Cables

said by Ivybridge_I7:

The alternating voltage that comes out of your electrical outlet is real not 12O VAC it's '169.68' (peak) VAC at the top of the sine wave. This is why you get the rapid jolting (60 hertz per second),pain-full feeling when you touch the connection and short to ground though your body.

The 120 volts(AC) is just the average, use-able part of the sine wave. It's the root-means-square of the sine wave.
Why the Tech explanation all of a sudden? It's called 120vac, that is good enough for most, Me included, I know of waveforms and such, But co-sines and sines I don't. As I have a GED and a couple certificates in computers and 27 years experience using computers. I also know how to replace an outlet or a switch If need be, Or even wire up a New Electrical Circuit or in extreme cases a breaker if need be, Not that I'd normally need to, I'm disabled, Not stupid or dumb. So please I'm not an electrical engineer, Ok?

Ivybridge_I7
Cyber-Crime Researcher OpSec
Premium Member
join:2004-06-09
Daytona Beach, FL

Ivybridge_I7

Premium Member

Re: Thieves were Crazy to try & steal Live Electrical Cables

said by zoom314:
said by Ivybridge_I7:

The alternating voltage that comes out of your electrical outlet is real not 12O VAC it's '169.68' (peak) VAC at the top of the sine wave. This is why you get the rapid jolting (60 hertz per second),pain-full feeling when you touch the connection and short to ground though your body.

The 120 volts(AC) is just the average, use-able part of the sine wave. It's the root-means-square of the sine wave.
Why the Tech explanation all of a sudden? It's called 120vac, that is good enough for most, Me included, I know of waveforms and such, But co-sines and sines I don't. As I have a GED and a couple certificates in computers and 27 years experience using computers. I also know how to replace an outlet or a switch If need be, Or even wire up a New Electrical Circuit or in extreme cases a breaker if need be,
Here's a site that will explain it to you in basic form.
»www.allaboutcircuits.com ··· 1/2.html

I would imagine if you are going to work on computers you should know a little information of the properties of alternating current.

You don't need a engineering degree or a high level of intelligences to understand the process of Alternating Current.

Sorry for going into to much detail, but it does explain the process of electrocution.

CurtesyFlush
Bababooey, fafafooey, tatatoothy.
Premium Member
join:2002-08-23
Fontana, CA

CurtesyFlush to zoom314

Premium Member

to zoom314
said by zoom314:
said by Ivybridge_I7:

The alternating voltage that comes out of your electrical outlet is real not 12O VAC it's '169.68' (peak) VAC at the top of the sine wave. This is why you get the rapid jolting (60 hertz per second),pain-full feeling when you touch the connection and short to ground though your body.

The 120 volts(AC) is just the average, use-able part of the sine wave. It's the root-means-square of the sine wave.
Why the Tech explanation all of a sudden? It's called 120vac, that is good enough for most, Me included, I know of waveforms and such, But co-sines and sines I don't. As I have a GED and a couple certificates in computers and 27 years experience using computers. I also know how to replace an outlet or a switch If need be, Or even wire up a New Electrical Circuit or in extreme cases a breaker if need be, Not that I'd normally need to, I'm disabled, Not stupid or dumb. So please I'm not an electrical engineer, Ok?
Calm down Skippy, he just tossed a little book learnin at yew, it ain't a goin to bite.

PolarBear03
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium Member
join:2005-01-03

PolarBear03 to Ivybridge_I7

Premium Member

to Ivybridge_I7
said by Ivybridge_I7:

It was a pretty graphic picture of what execution can do to you.
No kidding. A good execution will kill you every time!

••••••

xNPC
As Usual, Have Nice Day
Premium Member
join:2000-11-08
Errington, BC

xNPC

Premium Member

next time

better use that 188a test set.

NetFixer
From My Cold Dead Hands
Premium Member
join:2004-06-24
The Boro

NetFixer

Premium Member

This is nothing new

This has been going on since the days of telegraph poles, take it from someone who has been called in to clean up the mess.

/r0/download/1138845~ccdfaf0e186607e7520b0c613d363904/squirrel-cable.gif

TScheisskopf
World News Trust
join:2005-02-13
Belvidere, NJ

TScheisskopf

Member

Re: This is nothing new

In the little(and I mean LITTLE!) town I live in, summertime is the time for sciurus explosivus.

In the summer, the little buggers run the lines. Six times last year, minimum, I would be sitting at the computer with the window or deck door open, hear a bloody great explosion and the lights would go off. One time, it happened right outside the window. I went downstairs to see what might be left of the tree rat.

Nothing. Apparently, it had been rendered unto its sub-atomic structure.
Antonlm
join:2004-09-15
Birmingham, AL

Antonlm

Member

Every Occupation has them.....

Job hazards. I have paper cuts to deal with and they have electrocutions. it all balances out in the end.

Doctor Four
My other vehicle is a TARDIS
Premium Member
join:2000-09-05
Dallas, TX

Doctor Four

Premium Member

Re: Every Occupation has them.....

Except that paper cuts don't kill you.

Still, it is pretty stupid of them to try and steal
live copper. But hey, it saves the taxpayers some money
that would have otherwise been spent by the legal system.

Boogeyman
Drive it like you stole it
Premium Member
join:2002-12-17
Wasilla, AK

Boogeyman

Premium Member

Re: Every Occupation has them.....

Paper cuts can TOO kill you. If it gets infected and you get gangrene. Or if the paper was dipped in cyanide.

/sarcasm

LOL, I can see Dateline or someone doing a show...

"Office workers have more to fear than just carpal tunnel now..."

"Friends close to the deceased said the victim 'Said he didnt need a band-aid and that he was fine..' Little did he know that paper cuts were nothing to joke about..."

Sorry, I had to.

richardpor
Fur it up
join:2003-04-19
Portland, OR

richardpor

Member

Common problem

Sondsl like they were tweakers (meth users)
it is worst in the construction business, tweakers are ripping up new homes to get at the copper.

•••

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

Karl Bode

News Guy

Real ethical group, too...

I had the house I was renting destroyed by a flood last summer, and while the county was a disaster zone, and we were struggling through knee-deep mud to help neighbors, many guys were going house to house to strip them of copper in the night.

Frankly, electrocution is too good for guys like that....

•••••••••

Ivybridge_I7
Cyber-Crime Researcher OpSec
Premium Member
join:2004-06-09
Daytona Beach, FL

Ivybridge_I7

Premium Member

Copper Thieves Turning Up Dead (DOH!)

"New Hampshire men were electrocuted while trying to steal copper wire from an unoccupied power plant".

They need to put that on Youtube.com. That would be the funniest thing to see.

The stealing of copper (copper pipe) is a growing problem in the Wilkes-barre Pa. area. Drug addicts are breaking into houses during the day, and stealing all the copper in the basement. Around here, you can get about two dollars a pound at the local scrap dealer.

••••••

odreian615
join:2006-01-18
Chicago, IL

odreian615

Member

I'm on your telephone pole stealing your Copper oh wait

thats a powerline ZAP

RAID kills bugs dead

swintec
Premium Member
join:2003-12-19
Alfred, ME

swintec

Premium Member

New Hampshire?

The article says two Mass. men were electrocuted, not two NH men.

PhoenixDown
FIOS is Awesome
Premium Member
join:2003-06-08
Fresh Meadows, NY

PhoenixDown

Premium Member

How much do they expect to make?

I see how much a pound of copper is going for but how many pounds of this stuff do they really expect to walk away with? Enough to even make this worthwhile?
flushls
join:2004-11-02
Joyce, WA

flushls

Member

Redneck special olympics

Must add stealing copper from power poles to the
Redneck special olympics.

••••••

notacrook
@swbell.net

notacrook

Anon

no buyers, no market

Who are the buyers? They must know they are buying stolen goods. If the cops are serious about stamping this out they know where to go look.
anth0r
join:2006-10-31
Imperial, CA

anth0r

Member

Re: no buyers, no market

said by notacrook :

Who are the buyers? They must know they are buying stolen goods. If the cops are serious about stamping this out they know where to go look.
You can easily recycle copper for cash. Even if it has other metals on it. Just burn the plastic off the wiring..ect....They've been stealing water heaters in my area and straight tearing copper water lines from peoples homes. It keeps my business busy though =P
Necronomikro
join:2005-09-01

1 edit

Necronomikro to notacrook

Member

to notacrook
here in AR at least, they're considering a law that would make scrap buyers keep records now, which should stem the flow a bit.
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