[Source: Michael Ferraresi, Arizona Republic] — Kevin Marinos sells scrap metal. He refuses to buy it. His auto parts salvage yard in central Phoenix focuses solely on whole vehicles. His employees strip everything from mirrors to the engines to resell, a business that leads to plenty of suspicious propositions from people selling used auto parts. As police struggle with the rising rate of metal thefts, scrap-yard owners like Marinos must choose between following Arizona law or turning a quick profit on the scores of stolen copper tubes, pool backflows, or catalytic converters offered by thieves for as little as a few dollars.
Copper theft is particularly prevalent in Phoenix as cases spiked more than 430% since 2003, according to police statistics released this week. Thieves continue to target residential air-conditioning units and commercial construction sites for copper wire, although car parts are becoming a trendy quick-hit for thieves. [Note: To read the full article, click here.]
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