'Hot metal' a multi-million-dollar headache in B.C.

Businessesand individuals in B.C. arespending millions of dollars every yearreplacingstolen metals and wire, thanksboth tothieves and tounscrupulous dealerswilling to look the other way when offered "hot" scrap.

A CBC-Vancouver Sun investigation this week has revealed that while many scrap dealers refuse to buy metals from people without proper identification or who offer metals that are likely stolen, other dealers are not so reluctant.

And the costs of the black markettrade are mounting.

Advanced Integration Technology, of Langley, B.C. has been hit at least six times in the past six months by metal thieves.

The company manufactures specialized tools used in aircraft assembly and accumulates significant amounts of scrap metal. It stores the scrap in large bins and periodically sells it to scrap dealersunless thieves break in and get it first.

"It's cost us about $12,000 just for scrap metal theft," said general manager Stephen Taylor-Lewis. "I see them as vultures."

Telus hardest hit

By far, the biggest metal theft victim in B.C. is Telus and the telephone customers whose communications are cut off whenever a theft occurs.

Thieves hit the company 380 times in 2011, says spokesman Shawn Hall.

"That cost us about $19 million to tackle, and we're on track to meet or exceed that this year," Hall said.

One theft last week cut service to 500 Langley customers, and Hall said it's more than just an expensive inconvenienceit could cost a life.

"Its only a matter of time, really, before one of our customers picks up the phone to dial 911 and they can't get through and they die."

Its not just businesses that are victimized.

Wire ripped from walls

Homeowner Paul Roop was having his family's dream house built in Surrey's upscale Panorama Ridge neighbourhood when thieves entered the partially completed building overnight and tore out the copper wiring.

"They ripped the wiring off from the walls and [took] it away," Roop said.

Roop said the repair and replacement cost $60,000 and put the completion date for his house back six months, while the profit for the thieves was estimated to be about $100.

"They will come and demolish half of your house, just for $100," he said.

New provincial laws cracking down on dealers who buy from thieves come into effect in July. Thats the only kind of change that will make a difference, said Taylor-Lewis.

"You need to dry up the source of the funding. As long as the scrap metal dealers dont buy scrap metal from these guys, they'll stop stealing."