[MassHistPres] stolen metal artifacts

[Tristram Metcalfe]

Thanks Dennis

The quickest means may be to "inform" the dealers who ARE  the guilty
enablers to those who may be desperate hungry rouges or the disadvantaged
fringe,,, telling them that;
"They are in fact the thieves [as in getaway drivers] and they will be
prosecuted.."

A better structured language with advice from a pro-bona pro-preservation
attorney would be wise,,, BUT DO send the message regardless to ALL
vendors,, and you/we may deter them,, by making them into heroes as they
plug this drain of our historic equity.

They are heroes OR they are criminals,, it's their choice.

Tris

Tristram W. Metcalfe III,   AIA  NCARB  NY MA CT
142  Main St. Northampton, Mass. 01060
E <twm3 at metcalfe-architecture.com>
P 413.586.5775 C 413.695.8200
Alt.E < twm3 at rcn.com >
http://www.wmaia.org/firm_profiles/metcalfe_associates.html


> As you may have seen in the Globe the other day, thousands of feet of
> the cast iron trim from the Longfellow Bridge have disappeared from a
> storage yard.  Not long before that a bronze statue was stolen from
> Forest Hills Cemetery.  During the last year there have been stories
> of  stolen bronze veterans grave markers and building plaques and a
> bronze cannon -- not to mention cast aluminum street signs and wrought
> iron fences.
> 
> 90% of what most scrap metal dealers buy is legitimate.  And I assume
> most scrap dealers are legitimate.  But when sorting the iron from the
> aluminum from the bronze -- which must be done -- the dealer must know
> something's fishy when a statue or a building plaque shows up!  And I
> suspect the people stealing these things know where the policy is
> "cash paid and no questions asked".
> 
> All sorts of businesses in the state are licensed -- especially where
> there is the possibility of crime or harm occurring in relation to
> misuse.  Why not license scrap metal dealers and make them keep a log
> of their purchases, including photo ID based information on the
> seller.  (Anyone dealing only in cars or drink cans could be exempted.)
> 
> If every licensed dealer was on an e-mail list which could be notified
> immediately by the police of the theft of an identifiable item (not
> downspouts, unfortunately), such stolen goods might become unsalable
> and unscrupulous dealers could not claim ignorance.
> 
> It would only take a few hits to single out the bad apples.  And the
> risk of a lost license for dealing in stolen property might save our
> historic metal artifacts (and maybe some stolen copper downspouts).
> 
> Anyone know a legislator or two?
> 
> Dennis De Witt
> Brookline
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