Scrap metal theft cases on the rise

TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - Law enforcement officials said they're seeing more and more cases of people taking what they think is just "junk" from other people's property and then selling it for quick cash.

"If it's one man's junk, it's his junk," Tippecanoe County resident Norm O'Bryan said.

Sgt. Brian Lowe with the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office said one man's junk is often times a thief's treasure.

"We see it often," Sgt. Lowe said. "A lot of times it's after the fact and we get called and somebody will discover they're missing a bunch of scrap metal from their property. Sometimes it's discovered the same day or the next day."

This exact scenario happened to Norm O'Bryan, who owns farmland in Tippecanoe County.

"Some fellas stopped and asked if they could go all over the farm and find scrap metal," O'Bryan said. "I said 'No, I'm taking it over to Oscar Winski.' Then they left."  

Two days later O'Bryan's scrap metal was no where to be found.

"I came home and the scrap metal was gone," O'Bryan explained. "It was in the barn so it was easy to get. I think you'll see a lot of that happening. I know a couple other farmers that are being asked if they could pick up scrap metal."

Tuesday a viewer sent video of scrap metal in the back of a truck. He claims he caught two people stealing the scraps from a property in southern Tippecanoe County.

Sgt. Lowe said typically after thieves hit the jackpot of that so-called junk, they then bring it to businesses like Oscar Winski in Lafayette to make quick cash.

"It's theft," Sergeant Lowe explained. "Theft in Indiana is a felony. Taking property from somebody else that doesn't belong to you can actually get you arrested and put in jail."

Gary Huber manages the nonferrous metals department at Oscar Winski. He said people can make a pretty penny by recycling extra clutter.

"There's a lot of value in metals," Huber said. "Absolutely there is. Those markets have continued to go up and the values have continued to go up."

Huber explained how anytime people bring their scrap metals to places like Oscar Winski, workers keep a close eye on what comes in and out of their facility.

"We take a vehicle description, a license plate number as well as the person's name," Huber said. "And then as they bring the materials in we create a list of materials and waste and keep track of it so we can go back and find information."

Huber said anytime they suspect items are stolen they immediately contact law enforcement and investigate.