[purpahurl]

I have some experience with this sort of situation. Mainly on the getting my stuff back from the scrap yards after it has been stolen. The scrap yards are as much at fault as the thieves. They know when they get "certain items" new copper pipe in coils, urns, brass and bronze ingot, whole castings,etc.. that it's hot. One place will go ahead and buy it and then they cover it up with junk so if you go in there to look for it it's very difficult. This is where I have experience. Getting it back once I find it with or without the police. Usually they say "go ahead and pick out what's your's", when they are horsey they don't want you in there at all. That's when you come back with samples and the police. They take a picture of everyone selling this type of scrap and have some form of ID on this person. They also have contracts they have to meet. This would not even be an issue if the scrap yards were a little more ethical in their purchases. When stuff like this is found at the scrap yard the only thing they are out is what they paid for the scrap. Maybe more stringent penalties against the scrap yards would deter this altogether.