What should I do if I suspect scrap metal I've been offered to buy or that I've seen for sale might be stolen?
Short answer: If you have genuine grounds for suspicion — unusual circumstances, an unwillingness to provide identification, clearly institutional or infrastructure-marked material being sold informally — reporting it to NSW Police is the appropriate step, since knowingly dealing in stolen property carries real legal risk, and metal theft reporting helps the broader effort to track and deter it.
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List Free →Warning signs worth taking seriously
Material that’s clearly marked as belonging to a utility, council, or other institution, an seller unwilling to provide any identification or explanation of origin, or a price significantly below what the material should reasonably fetch can all be signs worth taking seriously.
Why this matters beyond just doing the right thing
Knowingly purchasing or handling stolen property carries genuine legal risk for you as well — this isn’t only an ethical consideration, it’s a practical one if you’re on the buying side of a suspicious transaction.
How to report it
NSW Police can be contacted through standard reporting channels for suspected stolen property — providing whatever specific details you have (description, location, circumstances) helps them assess and potentially act on the report.
How ScrapTrade Makes This Easier
Every buyer on ScrapTrade is business-verified, which reduces the chance of unknowingly encountering material with questionable provenance compared to an unverified private sale.
Ready to sell your scrap to a properly verified NSW buyer? ScrapTrade connects verified buyers and sellers with escrow-protected payments and transparent weighing.
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