Scrap metal sting leads to four arrests

Police arrested employees at four McHenry County metal scrap yards this week on charges they unlawfully bought copper wire without obtaining identification from the sellers.

The arrests culminated an investigation by the McHenry County Sheriff's Department and Crystal Lake Police into the lucrative black market for stolen copper, which can net thieves hundreds of dollars for a single haul. As of Friday, scrap copper was selling for $3.83 a pound, according to the Demolition Scrap Metal and Salvage News.

"The value of copper is so high, and apparently it's easy to deliver a large amount to a scrapper without being identified," McHenry County Undersheriff Eugene Lowery said.

On Wednesday, investigators posing as scrap metal sellers went to four scrap metal yards offering copper provided by Exelon Corp.

Under the law, employees at the businesses are required to obtain identification for any transaction of more than $100. None of the four investigated Wednesday did, officials said.

The purpose behind the law is to discourage thieves from selling stolen copper at scrap yards and give law enforcement a way to track down stolen metals and those who sold them.

"Pawn shops have to keep records for the same reason," Lowery said.

Arrested on the Class A misdemeanor charge were Brad T. Lindley, 37, of McHenry, at the T&C Metal Co. in Crystal Lake; Michael L. Alandy, 30, of Schaumburg, at Crystal Lake Recycling in Crystal Lake; Emily J. Lawrence, 56, of Crystal Lake, at Days & Crawford in Crystal Lake; and Catrina M. Smith, 24, of Crystal Lake, at Behr Co. in Woodstock.

Police initiated the investigation after Exelon reported thieves have taken thousands of dollars of its copper wire from job sites across the county.

The results surprised Lowery.

"I didn't expect total noncompliance," he said. "Unfortunately, that's what we got."