OCPA Special Project – Departments of More than 100 Officers

SCRAPP Project

In early 2006, the City of Toledo and surrounding communities began to experience a serious problem with theft of metals from homes, construction sites and businesses. Something other than the traditional police response was needed to stop this blight. Sergeant Joseph Heffernan and Sergeant James Brown developed a plan of action entitled SCRAP (Stop Criminals from Recycling Another Person’s Property).

The SARA model (Scanning, Analysis, Response and Assessment) was the problem solving model used to tackle this situation. Through scanning, it was decided to attack the demand side of this issue and work closely with scrap yards. Through analysis, it was learned that most of the criminal activity was occurring close to some local scrap yards.

The officers developed a multi-level response to the targeted scrap yards, which included an attempt to work with the businesses on education and compliance and partnership with affected businesses and individuals. A group comprising 10 of the 13 Toledo scrap yards was formed to work on this issue. They even worked together to tweak city ordinances.

Problems persisted at some of the existing scrap yards that would not collaborate with law enforcement. An undercover operation was utilized to get to the bottom of the problem. As part of the operation, one of the suspected scrap yards purchased over 600 pounds of copper signal wire without any questions being asked. This led to a search warrant and the recovery of numerous stolen items.

The operation and subsequent media coverage led to an increase in calls from scrap yards about suspicious persons delivering materials to the yards. Almost immediately, the number of house stripping complaints and thefts began to come down. The initial crime analysis looks good, with all types of crimes involving metal theft declining and citizens reporting that they feel safer. Project SCRAPP has been an effective and efficient use of tax-payer resources. That is why it is the winner of the Ohio Crime Prevention Award for Special Projects.