Suspected scrapper found dead in sewer...

Man found dead in Detroit manhole | Local News - Home

"DETROIT -
A man's body was found early Thursday morning in a manhole on Detroit's west side.

Police were called to the scene on Oregon Street and the I-96 service drive just before 1 a.m.

Police haven't identified the man, or released an official cause of death. But, sources tell Local 4 the man appears to have been electrocuted while trying to steal wires.*Tools commonly used to steal wire were found on the road near the manhole."

...same story happened April last year.

NO!!!

"Suspected Thief Found Dead in Detroit Manhole"

Read the last paragraph. They announced him as a suspected "scrapper" on TV. Maybe you recognise him as just a thief, but the general public doesn't draw a line between scrapping and metal theft.

Wonder what the tools "commonly used to steal wire" were? And how they were identified specifically as used for stealing?

For example, if one item was a hacksaw, I would have a hard time being able to say the above phrase with a straight face, as a hacksaw has a million uses. It could be "commonly used to saw steel bar"..... or "commonly used to cut the arms off of Tibetan schoolgirls"

Were they made by the "crooks R us Corp; wire stealing division"?

I'll bet if you gave one of those journalists who write this drivel a screwdriver, they would hold it by the wrong end and say, "whats this?"

Jon.

Idk about that. Scrapper are common here. There's at least three within a couple blocks of my house. And looking around my yard, a lot of them are obviously drug users.

Odds are he had a few basic tools and a container to haul. My guess.

It's not just a problem with the thieves. The yards are responsible too. Some hold high standards..others..not so much. Donnelly yard on Helle happily takes stolen goods.

It's been said here before, I feel for the family but it's natures way to cull out the "bad apples".

I had no idea there was wiring in sewage drains. Huh.

I don't disagree, I just wish it didn't have such an impact on how honest scrappers are viewed. I'm not stripping houses or stealing manholes...bet I'll still get a sideways glare or two driving with a full load.
My good deed for the day was helping an old lady demo a rusted out gazebo. Went curb shopping and came home to hear that story on the news.

Service lines. Maybe lighting for workers.

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Originally Posted by newattitude

I had no idea there was wiring in sewage drains. Huh.

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In the bigger cities all the electrical is run underground. Up in South Bend they had a large power grid failure right during Notre Dame and St Mary's graduation weekend. Most of downtown was shut down for a few days. The fire was raging up and out of the manholes. No explosion I know of. The city rented numerous generators on trailers to keep certain hotels and restaurants powered up during the outage. The cause was considered old age of the grid, not theft.
http://www.wndu.com/home/headlines/I...267407081.html

Downtown South Bend power restored

They hungry in detroit

We had one here last month. But he was in the hole for a year or two. Autopsy: man found dead in manhole likely electrocuted | KVOA.com | Tucson, Arizona

This type of activity and this low class reporting, in my opinion, is what is behind the scrap law(s) implemented in Detroit. Thieves are thieves, catch them, arrest them put them in jail and REPORT that activity. Mike

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aktLRiWXfqg

It's so cold in the D.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sawmilleng

I'll bet if you gave one of those journalists who write this drivel a screwdriver, they would hold it by the wrong end and say, "whats this?
Jon.

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Its a "Screw turner"

^^ ""But which way do I turn it??''

There is tons of wiring in manholes.....huge telephone cable....lead covered telephone cable....alot of it is abandoned and they just leave it

Wasn't there a past thread on about metal thiefs, an the the writer kept using the term scrapper an one of our forum members emailed him, an set him straight?

I need to go digging around I reckon. An stop calling this idiot a scrapper. He was a THIEF!

an no, I have no Sympathy.

Sirscrapalot - Doesn't like a thief nor cares what happens to one.

I was unintentionally a thief Saturday evening, although it all ended up working out. It’s all in my Day in the Life thread if you wanna check it out.

Ya knowing what I mean. ;)

Sirscrapalot - Bzzzz!

Oscar the Grouch: [driving into a junkyard] This is where I wanna be - grouch paradise! Just look it at. It's like a work of art.

there are a lot of desperate people in Detroit.

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Originally Posted by directrecycle

there are a lot of desperate people in Detroit.

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And in Tucson!

Yea but in Tucson ya'll can sleep outside in Dec. ;) I know I've done it. LOL.

By the way hobo..where are my pics of the sandstorm up in Phoenix?!

Sirscrapalot - Misses his cacti

Would of made lots more money turning peoples water back on. With the right tool people are making $30-$50 per pop.