[UPDATED] Scrapyard owner arrested for stolen steel

STEEL stolen from the Ministry of Works and Transport and sold to a scrapyard as scrap iron was recovered and seized on Tuesday.

Speaking with Newsday on Wednesday, Transport Commissioner Clive Clarke said the steel, which had been fabricated to construct an inspection bay at Wrightson Road, in Port of Spain, was stolen on Saturday. The steel was stored at the mechanical service building at the ministry’s Caroni’s building.

Clarke said workers noticed the steel missing on Tuesday morning and made a report.

Using CCTV footage, police and ministry officials were able to track the steel to a scrapyard at Munroe Road, Cunupia.

In a telephone interview on Wednesday, Allan Ferguson, head of the TT Scrap Iron Dealers Association, renewed his call for his membership to be careful about who they buy scrap iron from.

Ferguson said a foreign national who owns the scrapyard is assisting police with their investigation.

Instances like these, he said, give the industry a bad reputation and fuels the desire to ban the industry completely. He said some scrap dealers are making it hard for the entire industry, and Tuesday’s find is a “big blunder” which will further drag the industry into disrepute.

On July, 2 the Prime Minister chastised cable-wire thieves and said he intends to seek advice from Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC, on banning the entire industry.

Ferguson said, “I am calling on my members again to be careful of what you purchase. You must get proof of prior ownership. And even if people produce documents, don’t just purchase it and not verify it.”

Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan said the theft by those who sell to scrapyards is making it difficult for others. He said it costs the state millions of dollars because people steal copper from overhead cable wires, manhole covers, guard rails, and cable barriers to sell to dealers.

Sinanan said he could not say what the value of the stolen steel was, but said it was a “substantial amount.” He said could not say more as the matter is a police matter.

In April a man was electrocuted when he went to steal copper at Rochard Douglas Road Barrackpore. Last year, Michael “Mickey” Sooknanan, 14, of Cotton Hill Road in Mayo, was electrocuted when tried to steal copper from the Guaracara refinery.

Copper thieves have also vandalised pumps and pump houses to get copper to sell to scrap dealers. On June 29, thieves stole cables from the Water and Sewerage Authority's booster station at Thick Village, Siparia. This caused 40,000 customers to be without water for two days.

In April, Marabella residents said cable thieves caused a fire that destroyed two houses and a parlour at The Line near Bay Road. Accidents have been blamed on hanging cable wires after thieves cut them.

In May, thieves stole LED lights from under the Curepe interchange, and in July the bell from the St John’s Anglican Church, Petit Bourg, San Juan was stolen.

Several people have been arrested and charged for stealing copper and other state resources to sell to scrapyards. Some scrapyards have been searched, and stolen items found. Thieves have been brave enough to rip iron gates off their hinges to sell.

Correction
The photograph originally used to accompany this story was not of the business that was raided by police on Tuesday .
Newsday apologises for the error and  for any embarrassment or inconvenience it may have caused.

This story was originally published with the title "Police seize stolen metal, arrest scrapyard owner" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

HEAD of the TT Scrap Iron Dealers Association (TTSIDA) Allan Ferguson is again calling on his membership to be careful who they buy scrap iron from, after stolen pipes were recovered at a scrapyard.

Ferguson said the continual recovery of stolen items found at his membership’s scrapyards makes it easier for the Prime Minister to shut down the industry.

On July 2 Dr Rowley chastised cable-wire thieves and said he intends to seek advice from Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC, on banning the entire industry.

On Tuesday police discovered steel pipes at a Munroe Road scrapyard. They were later found to belong to the Ministry of Works and Transport.

Ferguson said, “I am calling on my members again to be careful of what you purchase. You must get proof of prior ownership, and even if people produce documents, don’t just purchase it, and verify it.”

Ferguson said an Indian national is assisting police with the find.

He added that Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan oversaw the removal of the loot from the Munroe Road scrapyard to an undisclosed location.

He added that unregulated scrap dealers are making things hard for the entire industry, and Tuesday’s find is a “big blunder” that will drag the industry into disrepute.