Metal theft compliance operation targets east valley recyclers

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Thermal Station and the District Attorney’s Office spearheaded compliance checks of the recycling businesses in Coachella and Thermal Tuesday.

This following increasing complaints of metal thefts targeting businesses and homes around the Coachella Valley.

In a statement, the Sheriffs Department said the compliance checks were part of an ongoing enforcement program aimed at reducing metal theft.

The county’s Code Enforcement, Weights and Measures, Environmental Health and Hazmat, Workers Compensation and Fraud Department and Coachella Code Enforcement all took part in the effort which visited four Coachella Valley recycling operations.

Investigators cited LS Recycling for Coachella municipal code violations at 48100 Harrison Street Space 1 in Coachella.

LS Recycling was also accused of violating several laws pertaining to weights and measures, several hazmat violations, violations of unemployment insurance and labor codes.

G&G Private Recycle was cited for several laws pertaining to weights and measures at 48100 Harrison Street Space 10 in Coachella.

The business was also cited for several hazmat violations, violations of unemployment insurance and labor codes.

Apple Market II was cited for several laws pertaining to weights and measures at 65959 Harrison Street in Thermal, also several hazmat violations, county code violations.

No violations were observed at SA Recycling, 48100 Harrison Street, Coachella.

The cost to replace or repair damage from the metal thefts is often more than thieves earn as entire air conditioning units have to be replaced.

Brass water back flow valves are also a popular target of thieves and have to be replaced when stolen often at a cost of more than a thousand dollars.