The city is cracking down on folks who swipe recyclables left on curbsides, increasing fines to $2,000 from $100, putting more sanitation officers on the streets and impounding vehicles used in thefts.

Still, scrap metal theft goes on — particularly in Brooklyn, home to the Sixth Street Iron & Metal recycling plant.

[podcast]http://nycitynewsservice.com/audio/2008/junk.mp3[/podcast]