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The interesting feature here is they were taking unrefined copper from an old copper mine that was abandoned in 1895. Obviously illegal, but a lot more enterpri
by version_five 4y ago
The interesting feature here is they were taking unrefined copper from an old copper mine that was abandoned in 1895. Obviously illegal, but a lot more enterprising than breaking into a house and stealing the wires and pipes
- happymellon 4y agoYou have to be pretty desperate to mine raw copper by hand. Is anyone looking at the social factors that would drive someone to do this? What support network could be developed to help these folks out of such extreme poverty that you are willing to make something like this your business plan.
- version_five 4y agoI don't know the circumstances, but compared to armed robbery or smash and grabs or some really desperate crime, this seems more entrepreneurial, like "hey there's still some copper in the abandoned mine". And it's essentially a victimless crime - it seems like there might be some conservation implications, like they disturbed a bat nest (which could also lead to histoplasmosis), but not the same as property crime, more like illegally cutting down a couple trees deep in the forest. All that to say, desperation may be an element, but the sophistication required indicates there's probably more to it than than. And making someone go to jail for 30 days for this is just stupid