Fall-out of economic depression: metal scrap thieves ravaging America

Todd of RaptureReady appeared awe-strucked as he described (18 July, 2011) a new phenomenon engulfing the American society. It is a situation quite familiar for many people from the third world countries – vandalization of public utilities in search of metals for re-cycling! In this case, the metal in question is copper which is witnessing a steady rise in the commodity market.

Todd describes the progression: “The problem started out with abandoned houses. Crooks would go into homes that are vacant and strip all the copper piping and utilities that contained the metal. The situation quickly escalated to the point that any form of copper was fair game.” He cited three cases in particular where innocent lives were put in jeopardy as unconscionable vandals went after copper:

“Georgia Power lost nearly a half a million dollars worth of copper wire last year. The utility is taking extra steps to stop copper thieves who have broken into several substations to clean them out. In many cases, the thefts were conducted on live power cables. Crews would respond to reports of outages and find that wires carrying 10,000 volts had been cut from the poles.

“In Jackson, Mississippi, five tornado warning sirens failed to warn residents of an approaching tornado because thieves had stripped the sirens of copper wiring, rendering them inoperable.

“In New Mexico, thieves stole a crucial piece of copper bonding from a train track, which could have caused a derailment.

But perhaps most despicable is the fact that, in the last few months, the phenomenon has reached the church, where air-conditioner units are the target. Todd continues with the sad chronicle: “In Parker County, Texas, thieves have stolen or damaged air conditioning units at seven different churches. Faith Presbyterian Church in Aledo was vandalized when a unit was pulled from the side of the building. The damage will cost the church at least $10,000. Members of a church in Mesa, Arizona, had to sweat through a service after thieves stole two of the church's three air conditioners. Authorities say the units weighed 5 tons each.” The value of copper in an AC unit is around $25!

As Todd laments the stark fact that “America has lost its moral base”, he fears that “a dog-eat-dog condition” could be triggered by even a mild economic depression. (http://raptureready.com/nm/362.html)

Now, if any nation thinks that great America would just go down without attempting to take the whole world with it, that must be some big joke indeed! As both the economy and morals go down in the United States, similar trends are bound to follow in other countries around the globe –whether spontaneously or by stimulation!

Pity those who put all their treasure and hope in this passing world order – especially when there is such a wonderful invitation into glory still begging to be picked up. Jesus says: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be” What a glorious hope! How could anybody reject such offer ?