Cohen Brothers Help Police Catch Scrap Metal Thieves

Taking a page from McGruff the Crime Dog, the staff at Cohen Brothers, a Middletown, Ohio scrap recycler, worked with local law enforcement to apprehend two men who had stolen some aluminum forms and had attempted to sell them for scrap.

The material the men were hoping to sell was valued at around $20,000.

Don Zulanch with Cohen Brothers, said that the company was immediately suspicious about the material when it was brought to the site. The company requested documentation to prove that the material was theirs and could be sold. When the men returned with the handwritten note Cohen Brothers contacted police. The two men were charged with felonies, including receiving stolen property.

Zulanch said that Cohen Brothers is very careful about the material they accept. He also noted that the majority of scrap recyclers follow the same approach to avoid purchasing stolen scrap. To reduce the chance, and assist police, Zulanch said the company has cameras on the property that film all transactions. "We take all the precautions, all the steps. We want people to respect us," Zulanch said.

Also, the company has developed a good relationship with the local police. "We welcome them (the police) to come here at any time," he added.

Cohen Brothers also works to share any information with other scrap recyclers in the general area to reduce the chance of any of the scrap recyclers purchasing stolen scrap metal.