Stolen metal still hot property in B.C.

Ajoint CBC News-Vancouver Sun hidden-camera sting has discovered B.C. metal dealers are still buying illegal scrap, ahead of agovernment crackdown of the industrynext month.

Thejoint investigative team went undercover to several metal yards in the Lower Mainland and attempted to sell scrap designed to look suspicious, but in reality supplied by Telus.

Telus is one of the biggest victims of the trade in "hot metal" and frequently sees everything from copper phone wires to aluminium phone booths stolen for illegal sale.

CACEnterprises Groupin Maple Ridge was caught buying a clearly marked Telus phone booth for $15, in violation of scrap metal bylaws requiring delivery in a company vehicle by a seller with company identification and authorization.

Undercover Vancouver Sun reporter Mike Hager was not even asked for a basic driver's licence or government-issued photo ID which are required from all sellers in case the scrap turns out to be stolen.

When shown a tape of the incident, CAC manager Xiao Yang said he was shocked by what he saw and admitted his yard should never have bought the booth.

"I'm certainly very surprised then disappointed, and of course, very embarrassed," he said. "There's no excuse. It's something that we missed and we should change."

CACEnterprises Group hassince broughtstaff up-to-speed on the rules andordered a new sign, warning potential scrap sellers that tough new rules are now in place.

Burned wire

In another incident, Ever Recycling in Surreywas caught paying $148 for burned wire cables with all casing and identifying marks burned offdespite the fact that municipal scrap metal bylaws specifically prohibit this.

When confronted about the purchase, Ever's manager said that Telus had told him he could buy anything worth less than $500. A Telus inspector disputed this claim.

Contacted later for clarification, Ever Recycling continue to insist they have done nothing wrong.

Under new regulations that will come into effect July 23, the province's 60 to 70 scrap metal dealers will be forced to file daily reports to police, who will be able to compare the information with reports of metal theft.

Sellers with more than $50 in scrap will be paid by cheque, not cash, to reduce walk-in traffic by individuals who want quick cash.

Sellers will also be required to give their personal identity information to the dealers and police will be able to obtain that information with a court order if they believe the metal was illegally obtained.

Seven provincial inspectors will enforce the new legislation.