Illegal-scrapping crackdown nets 62 arrests

A two-week campaign meant to thwart the theft of metal to be sold as scrap has resulted in 62 arrests and recovery of more than 2,100 pounds of metals.

Operation Meltdown focused on stolen metals from air conditioners, light poles, home siding and other sources, which are taken to recycling centers and sold for cash.

It also cracked down on stolen jewelry sold to pawn shops and gold buyers.

Sheriff Tom Knight said the primary reason for the theft was to support a drug habit.

“It’s not the bad economy for them,” he said. “None of these people want to get jobs. They just want to steal from people in lieu of going to get a job.”

Contact Robin Roy at [email protected].