FED UP: That's the only way to describe Aldon Gooding after his business was hit by scrap metal thieves over the weekend. He, however, refuses to close the business.

by HEATHER-LYNN EVANSON

AN ENGINEER is today counting his losses after scrap metal thieves ripped him off to the tune of more than $20 000.

And Aldon Gooding, who has been hit by thieves several times before, is fed up and wants something done to stop it.

Gooding, the owner of the seven-year-old Deacons Road, St Michael business Toronto Conveyors, arrived at work on Saturday to find that thieves had stripped his conveyors of everything metal.

His loss, this time, was $26 000 in motors and conveyor parts. In all, he is out of pocket to the tune of $30 000.

"I didn't look at the stuff I got there but one of my friends tell me the stainless steel I had there gone. All of the stainless steel I had there gone," he said.

"I get to the stage where I tired of people carrying 'way the conveyors from me," he told the DAILY NATION.

"When a guy could take a motor that cost $300 or $400 and go and sell it to a scrap yard for $5 or $10, and the scrap yard guys glad for it . . . I think it is madness. You got to do something about it," he said.

Gooding explained he was probably the sole maker of conveyor belts in the island; he supplies and fixes supermarket check-out counters, conveyor belts used by those who make concrete blocks, in addition to others.

More than one

He is convinced it is the work of more than one person who must have a truck at his disposal.

This is not the first time he has suffered at the hands of scrap metal thieves.

"This happens all the time," he said. "This is about the sixth or seventh time. Boys just come and take what they want, little piece by little piece at a time but I don't really pay attention to it 'cause I tell myself you want something to happen because you want to catch someone, but you ain't catching nobody."

Gooding recalled a few months ago, when thieves also hit his stock.

He had just bought a number of motors from the closed down JuC factory; had placed them on his property and when he came back they were gone.

In another instance, he was able to trace some of the stolen parts to a dealer.

"The fellow tell me he don't know who bring them there but, if I can get anything back out of them, I can take up what I can get out of them. But it was a waste of time 'cause they were all mashed up," Gooding said.

Now he is looking at reinforcing his property to make it difficult for would-be thieves.

However, he remains philosophical.

"Even if you have a strong shop built, and the guys want to do what they want to do, they gine still do it, so it comes back to Government to try to do something about this metal thing."

For Gooding, it's back to square one as he now has to rebuild the stolen parts.