Finally, someone is taking action against the Bay Area's copper crime syndicate that has hit everyone from Facebook HQ to local schools and churches. To respond to these less-than-electrifying crimes, SFPD has set up a sting operation targeting local junk deals and metal recycling facilities in the area - and they've already booked three employees of a local recycling center for possession of stolen property.

To educate the junkers, (and presumably to avoid any accusations of copper wire entrapment), the cops circulated photos and samples of commonly stolen metal goods like PG&E-owned copper and DPW manhole covers to local facilities. Still, when undercover officers showed up at a recycling center in the Dogpatch early Saturday morning looking to sell some hot metal goods, the employees took the bait and purchased them anyway. They were booked on "suspicion of possession of stolen property, permit violations" and various business code violations.

Previous Copper Theft Coverage on SFist
[BCN/Appeal]