I reckon there should be a task force to catch the thieves in the first place. How about having tracking devices inside tempting copper downpipes and other metal that is stolen regularly?
My neighbour's copper downpipes have been targetted six times now. I got the rego numbers for half of the thieves and video of them stealing it, but the cops are not going to do anything about it. I have three motion detecting video cameras aimed at his downpipes, and a sensor light!