A raid that was co-ordinated across multiple agencies in the Virgin Islands has resulted in five illegal scrap metal and metal recycling businesses being shut down. St Croix Police Chief Christopher Howell claims that the raid essentially “shut down the illegal scrap metal business on St. Croix.”

The raid shut down every location in the island that was taking in scrap metal, with many of the businesses operating out of makeshift locations, such as the back of a bar. It is hoped the operation will see a reduction in metal thefts, with increases in copper and aluminium especially being a problem in recent months.

There are now far fewer places to sell such stolen materials, with Howell continuing “With the Internet, people can still find places online where they can sell the stuff, but they’re bulky and heavy,” making it difficult to move, he said. “So, if we shut down the people who are buying it, then these people have no outlet. They’re holding onto something that’s not worth anything because no one will buy it.”

A host of violations were recorded at most of the businesses, including an accumulation of waste products that resulted in fire hazards and operating from locations other than those on their permits.