Quote Originally Posted by CageK View Post
Hey, SMF, today I was driving through an alley and noticed a dump next to the alley of vacuum cleaners, and fans, mixed with misc junk. I went to the door to knock and ask if I could have the garbage, but when I looked the door had "VACATED" written on it. So I figured I could take the scrap. When I tried two neighbors from a street away came out to tell me that the people had moved out and what I was doing was illegal. They were very nasty about it and said the police are gonna get me.



I don't want to break laws, but this was a pile of garbage, laying about 3 feet from the alley of a vacated house... the vacuum cleaners were full of dirt, as was the rest.

So am I legally able to take this garbage from a vacated house? I know the garbage wasn't necessarily on the street, but nobody owned the house and it was garbage.

Was I in the wrong?

Thanks, guys!



When scrap metal is located within private property lines it is illegal to take the metal without permission. Yes, that refrigerator or that vacuum cleaner is 2-3 feet away from the alley.. but without permission you do not know the whole story. There are too many unanswered questions.. Maybe the metal was placed there for another scrapper to pick up.. who knows? That is the problem.. I have seen this before and knocked on the door of the home to find out that they put the scrap there so it was easier for their cousin to load when he gets there in an hour.. Funny thing is.. they were watching me whole time.. people are not stupid..

When the scrap is in the street or in the alley it is FAIR GAME. There are no questions..

Yes, you may have done someone a favor by removing the scrap.. but you have to get that mentality out of your head. Metal is money and a lot of people know it whether you like it or not. What you did was illegal and if you are ever labeled a metal thief by your local police.. well.. good luck scrapping.. Did those neighbors get your license plate?

There is too much metal theft and police are cracking down.. the only way to operate your business is the legitimate way. Sometimes, it is too good to be true and you just have to walk away..

Freedom is much more valuable to me then a 25 dollar load. Just saying..