An Ethnographic Study of Scrappers and Metal Thieves. Benjamin Fred Stickle University of Louisville
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
University of Louisville ThinkIR: The University of Louisville's Institutional Repository Electronic Theses and Dissertations 5-2015 An ethnographic study of scrappers and metal thieves. Benjamin Fred Stickle University of Louisville Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.library.louisville.edu/etd Part of the Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons Recommended Citation Stickle, Benjamin Fred, "An ethnographic study of scrappers and metal thieves." (2015). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 2092. https://doi.org/10.18297/etd/2092 This Doctoral Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by ThinkIR: The nivU ersity of Louisville's Institutional Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ThinkIR: The nivU ersity of Louisville's Institutional Repository. This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has retained all other copyrights. For more information, please contact [email protected]. AN ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY OF SCRAPPERS AND METAL THIEVES By Benjamin Fred Stickle B.S., Cedarville University, 2005 M.S., University of Louisville, 2010 A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of the University of Louisville in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Justice Administration Department of Justice Administration University of Louisville Louisville, Kentucky May 2015 AN ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY OF SCRAPPERS AND METAL THIEVES By Benjamin Fred Stickle B.S., Cedarville University, 2005 M.S., University of Louisville, 2010 Dissertation Approved on April 16, 2015 by the following Dissertation Committee: _________________________________ Dissertation Director Richard Tewksbury, Ph.D. _________________________________ Patricia Gagné, Ph.D. _________________________________ Deborah G. Keeling, Ph.D. _________________________________ Eric S. McCord, Ph.D. ii DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to my wife Amy T. Stickle and to my parents Dr. & Mrs. Fred E. Stickle iii ACKNOWLEDGMENT I would like to thank my chair, Dr. Richard Tewksbury, for his guidance, encouragement and patience; whose teaching and mentorship allowed me to see academia in a new and exciting way. I would also like to thank the other committee members, Dr. Patricia Gagné, Dr. Deborah Keeling and Dr. Eric McCord for their assistance. I am especially indebted to my undergraduate professor and mentor, Chief Donald G. Hanna, who pushed me to master my profession, and myself. I am thankful to Campbellsville University who encouraged me to pursue this degree provided the flexibility to teach while doing so. I would also like to acknowledge the influence of the current and past members of the Cedarville University Department of Campus Safety, Bowling Green Police Department and Warren County Sheriffs’ Office, who taught me the skills and character crucial to faithfully serving others and who stood by me while keeping the peace. Specifically, I acknowledge the positive impact by Doug Chisholm, Don Parvin, Bill Randolph, Kenny Betts, Robert Hansen, Curt Clark, Josh Hughes, Ernie Steff, Robert Kitchen and Brett Pitchford. I would like to thank the many friends, family and church members who I left behind in Bowling Green, Kentucky to pursue my calling. Your encouragement was always appreciated and the memories, experiences and bonds have never been forsaken. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the impact and dedication of my family. To my parents, Dr. & Mrs. Fred E. Stickle, who fostered and encouraged my intellectual and moral development. Your words and conduct have compelled me to move forward even when I wanted to stay. I am thankful for my children Emery and Caroline who sacrificed playtime and bedtime iv stories so Daddy could study; I pray you will remember only dedication to learning and self- improvement. Most certainty not last, I am especially indebted to my wife, Amy. Without your love, support, sacrifice and encouragement I would not be where I am today. Words cannot express my gratitude or indebtedness. v ABSTRACT AN ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY OF SCRAPPERS AND METAL THIEVES Benjamin Fred Stickle April 16, 2015 Metal theft is a crime that has significantly affected the U.S. in the last decade causing millions of dollars of damages and losses. However, little is known about its prevalence and harms to society. Moreover, even less is known about the individuals who are involved in metal theft. This lack of knowledge has hampered the ability of law enforcement, governments and individuals to prevent metal theft. The present study provides the first known qualitative examination of scrappers and metal thieves. Qualitative data is derived from participant observation and unstructured interviews with scrappers as well as metal thieves. The goals are to define the characteristics, develop understanding, describe places and events, and identify the meanings, concepts and definitions of metal thieves. The present study provides insight into the criminal motivation and methods of metal theft as well as lays a foundation for future studies. Findings indicate that much of what is commonly believed about metal thieves in popular media and through anecdotal reports may be incorrect. Among other important findings, the present study indicates there is a clear difference between scrappers and metal thieves, identifies a scrapping subculture and distinguishes a taxonomy of scrappers and metal thieves. Further, metal thieves tended to operate in teams, usually are employed, often planed and deliberately committed theft, and were less influenced by drugs than frequently claimed. Moreover, metal thieves are often currently, or vi have a past work history, in field related to metal. These and other findings represent a significant contribution to the field of criminal justice and provide a thorough understanding of metal thieves and their behavior. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION ................................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGMENT.................................................................................................................. iv I - INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 1 II - LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................................... 8 Metal Recycling is Big Business ..................................................................................................... 9 Historical Demand ......................................................................................................................... 10 Prevalence of Metal Theft............................................................................................................. 14 Council of State Governments. ............................................................................................... 14 National Insurance Crime Bureau. .......................................................................................... 15 Indianapolis Metal Theft Project. ............................................................................................ 19 Rochester, New York. ............................................................................................................... 21 Prevalence Conclusion. ............................................................................................................. 21 Costs & Harms to Society and Individuals ................................................................................ 22 Direct Costs. ............................................................................................................................... 23 Indirect Costs to Society. .......................................................................................................... 25 Costs & Harms Conclusion. ..................................................................................................... 39 Price-Theft Hypothesis ................................................................................................................. 40 National Insurance Crime Bureau. .......................................................................................... 41 Rochester New York. ................................................................................................................ 43 British Railway Network. .......................................................................................................... 44 Price-Theft Hypothesis Conclusion. ....................................................................................... 45 Postulating a Taxonomy of Metal Thieves ................................................................................. 46 The Drug Hyperbole. ................................................................................................................ 47 Opportunistic Thieves............................................................................................................... 54 Calculated Thieves. .................................................................................................................... 56 Taxonomy Conclusions. ........................................................................................................... 59 Theories: Rational Choice & Routine Activities .......................................................................