ISRI forms new alliance to boost fight against metal theft

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Washington-based Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) has announced new partnership with Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) in a bid to expand its scrap metal theft alert system. By partnering with RISS, its theft alert software ScrapTheftAlert.com will be made available to more than 117,000 law enforcement officers across RISS member agencies through the RISS network.

Robin Wiener, president of ISRI stated that the free online alert system created by the recycling industry has played a key role in assisting law enforcement team to solve crimes involving scrap metal theft. By sharing valuable information about crime, it has contributed to apprehension of many a criminal. The partnership with RISS will further strengthen the relationship between recyclers and law enforcement, Weiner added.

Donald Kennedy, Chairman of the RISS Directors Association and Executive Director of the New England State Police Information Network (NESPIN) noted that RISS is extremely proud to be part of the project. He hoped that the collaboration with the leading recycling industry partner and the use of RISS technology will ensure expanded access of ScrapTheftAlert.com.

Launched in 2008, ScrapTheftAlert.com is an online theft alert system for the benefit of law enforcement, recyclers, and property owners. The system allows posting of metal theft alerts, which are then broadcast to subscribed users within a 100-mile radius of where the theft occurred. The system also has provision to expand the alert radius as warranted. ScrapTheftAlert.com features simple interface which allows selection of multiple locations to send alert. The alert system provides extensive search capabilities based on various parameters such as material, region, date, and key word, the results of which can be exported to different formats.

Across the US, ScrapTheftAlert.com has more than 21,555 registered users. A total of 18,536 theft alerts have been issued till date. The system has helped in recovery of nearly $2.2 million worth stolen property. Also, the system with nearly 600 active users in Canada has issued more than 300 alerts so far. It must be noted that ISRI had signed a contract with Salient CRGT towards end-2016 to add new features by connecting with law enforcement networks such as the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC), National Data Exchange (N-DEx), and the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS).

According to Department of Energy estimates, metal thefts costs the US economy $1 billion annually, as of 2014. It is considered as one among the fastest growing crimes. The damage caused by the theft is often much more than the value of the stolen material.

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI) is the Voice of the Recycling Industry. ISRI represents more than 1,600 companies in 21 chapters nationwide that process, broker and industrially consume scrap commodities, including metals, paper, plastics, glass, rubber, electronics and textiles. With headquarters in Washington, DC, the Institute provides safety, education, advocacy, and compliance training, and promotes public awareness of the vital role recycling plays in the U.S. economy, global trade, the environment and sustainable development.

Established more than 40 years ago, RISS offers secure information sharing and communications capabilities, critical analytical and investigative support services. RISS supports thousands of local, state, federal, and tribal criminal justice agencies in their efforts to successfully resolve criminal investigations and ensure officer safety. RISS is congressionally funded and administered by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). It consists of six regional centers and the RISS Technology Support Center.