Скачать или смотреть Scrap Metal Stolen in Medford

By Megan Allison/KTVL.com

Midas had 5,000 pounds of rotors stolen Monday night. The car care company had planned to sell the old parts, when thieves beat employees to the punch.

Lieutenant Mike Budreau said at least two truckloads of rotors were left in a bin outside, and disappeared by morning.

"These rotors are very heavy and there were about fifty of them. They're about 30/35 pounds each. So these suspects really put in a lot of effort and work to load these rotors up," Budreau said.

Budreau said once they identify where the metal was dropped off, police will be able to track the suspects.

Mike Melton is the general manager at White City metals. He said the law makes it difficult for criminals to get away with these types of crimes.

"We do take pictures. Of everything. We take pictures of material that comes in. We take pictures of the people that sell us the material. We take pictures of the vehicle. And the license on the vehicle," Melton said.

He said the law went into effect in 2010 following continuous complaints. Medford Police used to deal with metal theft crimes daily. In years past, the crime has gone down significantly.

"Once people realized that this is not an easy way to make money anymore, stealing other people's stuff, they started to slow it down. But it still happens," Melton said.

White City Metals pays about 3.5 cents per pound for prepared scrap. For the 5,000 pounds stolen that equals just $175. Tanner Woolf is the scrap manager at White City Metals. He said the people who commit these crimes are desperate for an easy buck.

"They could probably get enough to get whatever they're after and that's about it," Woolf said.

White City Metals said business has been slow in recent months. They said scrap prices have been declining since the end of last year.