Operation Meltdown

摘要

Copper is gold on the black market. Stolen from construction sites and illegally removed from businesses and homes, copper brings in big bucks for thieves who typically sell the precious metal to recycling businesses that don't ask a lot of questions about its source. Copper wire, pipe and tubing are used for telephone wire, air conditioner coils, downspouts, plumbing, car radiators and a host of other commercial and residential uses. There is increasing demand for the metal in the world market as developing countries grow and build but are forced to look elsewhere for the raw materials they need. The value of copper scrap metal is about $3 a pound. It's estimated that the world produces 14.6 million tons of copper a year, but the global demand exceeds 15.2 million tons annually. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, copper theft is a major problem costing more than $1 billion a year - or more, if you include the cost of repairing the damage done to buildings when thieves rip out copper.