It seems that almost every day in the news lately there is a story about scrap metal theft of some kind or another, almost to the point where it is reaching epidemic proportions. With recycled metal prices obviously high there must be a booming market for easy money for those desperate enough. And let’s face it, if there’s money to be made, someone’s going to lie, cheat or steal to get it.

When I first heard about scrap metal theft my mind immediately went to stolen metal bars and sheeting off of construction sites and I suspect that was the original instances of the crime. But these days thieves appear to be getting more inventive with it. Some of the things that are getting stolen would never have been thought of only a few years ago.

We’re talking about things like the brass nuts from fire hydrants which has escalated to whole fire hydrants, plaques and urns from cemeteries, empty beer kegs from alleys behind bars and breweries, manhole covers and sewer grates. In the UK there are reports of football change-rooms that have been stripped of shower fittings, taps, sinks and copper piping.

To combat the global scrap metal black-market, attempts are being made to bring in new laws to govern scrap metal yards. Some of them are being met with approval, most are not, particularly by the legitimate scrap metal merchants who find the new laws restrictive to say the least.

Unfortunately, with the high price commanded for recycled metal and the lure of easy money, it seems that the situation could be a difficult one to control.