Walpole Scrap Metal Thieves Caught On Camera

WALPOLE (CBS) – Walpole police are the latest department to be on the lookout for thieves stealing scrap metal for cheap money.

Video surveillance from the Connolly Bus yard in Walpole shows three men helping themselves to heavy metal parts like brake rotors, brake pads and large wheel hubs and loading them into a distinctive looking truck.

Owner Jay Connolly says they pile up the old parts from school buses until they're ready to be recycled.

The thefts may not cost the bus company much monetarily but Connolly worries about safety.

"I don't want them happening on people who work here and start early or finish late and surprise them. I don't want something to happen to them because of that," said Connolly.

Last week the town of Saugus saw a rash of sewer grate thefts and three more this week.

At salvage companies like Spiegel Truck and Auto Salvage in Brockton they're on the lookout for potential thieves and take precautions.

"We take the license plate number of every car that comes in.  We don't take brand new items and we don't take cast iron grates, things like that," said owner Anthony Pusateri.

Prices for scrap are on the rise which could be fueling the thefts, though Pusateri says in the Walpole case it may be a lot of effort for a small return.

"It's about ten cents a pound so it takes a lot of weight to add up to a lot of money."

Spiegel is among the salvage companies that's been contacted by Walpole Police, forwarding the video to be on the lookout for the suspects if they try to cash in.

"Sooner or later someone has to stop them," said Jay Connolly.

Anyone who recognizes the suspects is asked to call Walpole Police.