LAS VEGAS, NV -- (Marketwire) -- 08/14/08 -- Soaring copper prices have made metal a primetarget of local thieves. The issue has created a perplexing problem forrecyclers like AAEQ Manufacturers and Recyclers in North Las Vegas, who arecommitted to weeding out legitimate sellers from criminals thatindiscriminately steal materials -- ranging from copper wiring and plumbingfrom residences and commercial buildings to basic infrastructure such asmanhole covers and sewer grates.In light of a police raid on August 13 at a large scale Las Vegas arearecycling operation, AAEQ president and CEO, Scott Stolberg, says hiscompany remains committed to working with law enforcement officials to helpsolve this community-wide problem.
AAEQ recently invested in a new, $100,000 point-of-purchase system calledScrap Dragon that videotapes transactions, takes scanned fingerprints andgives separate IDs to each scrap seller. After a completed transaction,sellers receive a coupon which can be redeemed at an on-premise ATM, whichalso captures their image. The program is scheduled to be operational inSeptember of this year.
"Our goal is to help law enforcement prosecute people that are stealingmetal and then trying to sell it as recyclable scrap," said Stolberg.
Las Vegas area officials are considering legislation to make it moredifficult for scrap metal buyers and sellers to profit from the thievery.The plan is to loosely model Nevada's scrap-buying regulations after strictlaws enacted in Arizona last year.
AAEQ is a member of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.(ISRI), an organization that works hard to combat metal theft and workswith government agencies to craft reasonable regulations that will helpkeep recyclers in business while cracking down on illegal sales.
While Stolberg is in favor of good regulations, he said some of the ideasbeing tossed around by Las Vegas officials would virtually put legitimaterecyclers like AAEQ out of business.
"We understand the frustration of law enforcement people due to thisgrowing problem," said Stolberg. "We want to work with them but we don'twant to see legislation that discourages legitimate recycling efforts."
Stolberg encourages legislators and law enforcement officials to bringrecyclers to the table when proposing legislation so they have a voice inthe process. He also encourages them to look at work done by ISRI thattries to balance the interests of all parties.
ISRI has developed "Recommended Practices and Procedures for Minimizing theRisks of Purchasing Stolen Scrap Materials," that recyclers can employ attheir facilities to minimize the risk of unintentionally purchasing stolenmaterials. AAEQ has adopted these guidelines in its operations.
For more information on AAEQ, visit www.aaeqscrap.com or phone (800)426-8771. To learn more about the scrap recycling industry and its effortsto combat materials theft, visit www.isri.org/theft.
About AAEQ Manufacturers and Recyclers
AAEQ Manufacturers and Recyclers is a comprehensive company that providesleadership in the automotive parts remanufacturing, manufacturing andrecycling industries under its AA Midwest and EngineQuest (EQ) divisions.With locations in Las Vegas, Chicago and Blue Island, Ill., AAEQ has beenfamily owned and operated since 1949 and continues to be known for itsoutstanding customer service and high degree of integrity. AAEQ is also thelargest scrap metal recycler on the West Coast. For more information, visitwww.aaeq.net.
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Scott Stolberg
President & CEO
AAEQ
800.426.8771 x202
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