Frustrated - What are your thoughts

I have one of my first really large projects. I am filling up 2 roll off containers a week. The scrap yard is just swapping out the containers and I keep filling them. Anyway, we have temporary construction chain link fencing set up within the work zone. As I take metal to the edge of the roof top, it is loaded on a skytrack and then dumped in the metal only roll off container. The metal container is blue while the trash ones are brown. My metal container is marked scrap metal as they other are marked waste. Over the last 4 weeks, I have had 5 different scrappers get into my metal dumpster. It is marked scrap metal and behind a chain link fence that says "keep out", "hard hat area", etc. The 5 I ran off each all played the ole I am dumb and thought this was just trash. Sunday someone got in there and took some out but they had to unhook the fence and disregard the signs. At least I left it with some heavy stuff on top and they managed to roll one piece out but couldn't get it on their trailer/truck due to weight. They got a couple pieces of the smaller stuff. My questions, I how do you keep other scrappers out? I have made sure there is fencing, signs, clearly marked roll off containers, etc. Sometimes at the jobsites I work, we set some stuff on the ground and people think it is free to pick up. Again, if I intercept the act, it is always the ole " I thought it was trash". I am frustrated because these other random scrappers are contantly skimming my projects.

mark it blatently clear enough that they can not use that line and state that police will be called as soon as they are spotted with no notice to them, write it big on a 4x8 plywood and wire it to the gate. also maybe get an I beam as long as the bin and press it down with the skytrack so nothing can be removed, kind of like some people set the bucket of a track hoe on the tounge of a trailer. maybe get a deer camera and hide it somewhere close to get tag numbers on weekends

make a staging area on the roof, when you get a load ready, fill the roll off and have it picked up that day

There is a sign out front of the junkyard I go to that says " If you can read this you are within range" and there's a pic of a revolver on the sign. Pretty self explanatory.

Seems like these illiterate a..holes :mad: can't understand any sign other than the one that says scrap metal. Try marking it as radioactive. But you should take other measures how about higher fence possibly barbed or maybe a guard dog or cameras. As far as I'm concerned they are trespassing, whether they think it's trash or not. Call the cops if you know anything about them.

that's a good one Mechanic

Thieves suck!

Electrify the dumpster.
http://wiki.luukland.net/images/b/bc...Grin-120px.png

What you are encountering are bottom of the pond scum that no amount of signs, laws, talking to, etc will deter.

I like the I-beam idea, or having it picked up same day it's filled.

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Electrify the dumpster.

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But if one of them gets hurt on it they can come back to sue you. These lawyers today will try to sue almost anyone.

I wasn't being serious.

"Every other thief shot dead...and the last one just left."

Request a lid for it. Pretty simple.

Put a tarp on it. That is what everbody around here does.

I would report it to the police and when caught press charges

If it is the same people write their tag numbers, and tell them that they been told numerous times, and now your calling the cops and they can explain to the cops just how dumb they are.

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Originally Posted by Mechanic688

But if one of them gets hurt on it they can come back to sue you. These lawyers today will try to sue almost anyone.

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In the UK you have to be alive to sue.

If you put up signs, fence in the containers, etc (containing your property), they are breaking the law and stealing from you.

You have only two options really,

1 - Improve your security so either a) scrappers can't get in or, b) scrappers are more reluctant to try.

2 - Find a way to catch them in the act if it DOES happen (whether via cameras or via a $10 an hour security guard etc), you can take action on it and at the very least try to recoup what you lost.

It's just one of those things, people steal, people lie, people are inconsiderate, and all of it costs us money. All you can really do is learn and become better at prevention.

You can also make your local authorities aware, tell them it's happening frequently and they may have an officer in that zone try to keep an eye on it.

Putting up signs that state the area is under surveillance, even though it's not, will deter some and will make others wear a mask... Add a fake camera to make it more real.... Add on there any trespassing will be prosecuted.

As stated above.

1. Weight your fence down with heavier items so it cant be moved.
2. Lock the fence with a lock
3. Fence off just the dumpster with barbwire fence
4. Add security, Camera's and signs do go a long way. As do a very well lit area. People are very reluctant to go into an area that they can be spotted.
5. Spend a night or two in your truck watching for these people. As soon as you see them, dial 911 and call the police. Drive fast and try to pin them by parking right in front of their vehicle. Tell them not to move the police are on the way. Also a "Chic Chic" of a pump shotty stops most people in their tracks. If they run let them go. You now have their truck and it will be impounded.
6. Never, ever ever give these people an inch. If you do they will take 10 miles.

5. Spend a night or two in your truck watching for these people. As soon as you see them, dial 911 and call the police. Drive fast and try to pin them by parking right in front of their vehicle. Tell them not to move the police are on the way. Also a "Chic Chic" of a pump shotty stops most people in their tracks. If they run let them go. You now have their truck and it will be impounded.


or you can just keep their truck, take it home and have some fun in it then cut it up and put it in said dumpster. presto fun had and money recovered, does not get much better than that.

When living in a duplex our neighborhood seemed to be infested with theves. Everyone was getting broke into when they were gone. I got tired of it and put a sign on my front lawn. House is wired for 220 volts. If you can get in your welcome to steal anything you want. I never locked my doors, just had two bare pieces of copper wire x'ed across them. I was never broke into even though at the time my job took me away for a month at a time. The only person who asked me about it was a local cop who told me it was illegal. You should have seen his face when I grabbed the wire and nothing happened.