[MassHistPres] stolen metal artifacts

[Tristram Metcalfe]

That's true Dennis, in the big picture a lengthy process would develop,, but
an immediate letter to ALL scrap metal handlers,, NOW,, really could nip it
in the bud where the evidence first surfaces.

It need only strongly imply they will be prosecuted and identify that the
laws are changing. After all,, they feel safe now, they NEED to feel unsafe
immediately. 

If they pass on the fear to the thieves,, their spoils will stop flowing and
or get dumped if they cant pass it on,, they don¹t want the artifacts just
the cash.

A simple one page letter to all of the dealers could identify a safe means
to drop it off so they can tell the thieves to become heroes saying they
found this historic looking stuff on the side of the road if they are seen
dropping it off wherever in a visible public realm that we can keep an eye
on. 

The worry remains that they will chop it up beyond recognition, but that
requires much more work reducing incentive,, while still keeping their fear
the smaller parts will be recognized..

Tris   

> Tris
> 
> This is a national and endemic problem.  It flares up every time there
> are metal shortages.  It was a similar problem during the Viet Nam war.
> 
> I think it needs a legal/institutional response.  Maybe an
> organization like HMI could get together with affected governmental
> agencies -- such as DCR whose cost for replacing the Longfellow
> castings alone will be $750k! -- to work on sponsoring legislation.
> It would have to be a sustained effort.  Often such things take a
> couple of attempts to get thru the legislature, so they need some
> weight behind them.
> 
> Dennis
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Sep 11, 2008, at 2:06 PM, Tristram Metcalfe wrote:
> 
>> 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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>> 
> 
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