Pallet Thefts - Scrappers Radar

Just curious what your thoughts are.

We stack pallets outside our business. We sometimes recycle for $ or reuse. We did this for years and zero were taken without permission. About a year ago we had about 60 outside and offered them for free to one person who had a friend who also wanted some. We said fine take what you want. I guess word got around and probably five different people showed up within 2 days and they were gone.

Now I guess that got us on the "scrappers" radar. Since then we have had different people come up and ask and we sometimes say yes take them or no don't. A few months ago on a Saturday a guy comes up in a truck and wants to take the pallets we have outside. I told him we were saving them. He says "Oh OK I always like to ask before I go taking anything, because you never know." On Monday we notice our stack of pallets is gone. We check the cameras and sure enough the same guy came back on Sunday and loaded them all on his truck.

I decided against reporting him or anything like that, but his bridge was burned. Recently he comes again and asks. I did not mention anything about seeing him take the others I just told him no we are saving them. He gives me the same line "I never take anything without asking" yadayada. So the next day he comes again. I see him on camera going to the front door. I'm just like great why is he back. He knocks, stands out there for a little bit then goes back to his truck. A minute goes by and he hasn't left the parking lot. I went outside and he's there loading pallets. He was almost in his truck when I went out and actually took off with a couple in his truck. Before getting in his truck I think he said "Oh you were going to use these".

Ok end of story. That was long. We've seen him on our cameras weekdays and weekends patrolling the other businesses. I would guess he is picking up more than just pallets. Makes scrappers look bad.

In my opinion you gave the guy one chance to many. Checking with the neighbors to see if they are missing anything and reporting it to the police would be my game plan. If you can get his license number I would send him a note telling him he was caught on camera and it has been reported. Just like raising a child, let them think about their action and worry what the consequence will be. Sometimes that is worse than the punishment. I am sure if you contact him, you or your neighbors will never see him again.

The real reason for the response is to correct you on one statement - He is not giving scrappers a bad name, he is making thieves look stupid.

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Originally Posted by Patriot76

In my opinion you gave the guy one chance to many. Checking with the neighbors to see if they are missing anything and reporting it to the police would be my game plan. If you can get his license number I would send him a note telling him he was caught on camera and it has been reported. Just like raising a child, let them think about their action and worry what the consequence will be. Sometimes that is worse than the punishment. I am sure if you contact him, you or your neighbors will never see him again.

The real reason for the response is to correct you on one statement - He is not giving scrappers a bad name, he is making thieves look stupid.

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Wow the best answer I would not of thought of. Thank you, 73, Mike

Google your cities name or other nearby cities and "pallets"...a few places will come up probably. Call them...have a conversation...describe the truck and guy. Maybe ask if there is anywhere else around town you could call to give them a heads up. Pallets are a small world. Somebody will know him. Pallets are a tough game...you either do well or not as the average pallet hustler. They don't look well on pallet thieves.

I got into pallets about 3 years ago. Turns out, if you can be professional and reliable, pallets are way more money for the average street guy than scrap..assuming you have an outlet for them. That varies on location greatly. Protip: Driving around looking for them is NEVER profitable. MAYBE if you are in an town under 100k where no one looks and they just sort of stack up and you can be the odd man out and start a route, but where I live, it is COMPETITIVE. You will barely pay your gas, let alone wear and tear. If they are a sideline of other things, or a way to make some cash as a hobby, fine. Either wait for that big break or be prepared to pay and have an outlet for those you just bought. If they aren't 48x40 4 way, they aren't worth anything, with rare exception. I got a lucky contact and do well, but all the same, I know it could be over the next change of management. So far so good though.