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States Act as Copper Thefts Continue to Plague Builders
State legislatures are increasingly addressing an outbreak of copper thefts stemming from a roughly five-fold increase in copper prices since 2004 in response to rising demand from China and India.
Copper today can fetch between $3 and $4 a pound, providing an inducement for thieves to steal the metal in every possible form — air conditioning units, telephone lines, railroad signaling wire, beer kegs, manhole covers, bleachers, guard rails, signs and traffic lights.
Especially hard hit, home builders have had to resort to security details to stem costly copper thefts. Thieves breaking into an unoccupied house can steal hundreds of dollars of copper parts, and leave behind thousands of dollars in damage.
At least 26 states have attempted to address metal theft by passing laws that enforce stricter penalties for stealing copper as well as tightening the record-keeping requirements of scrap yards.
Florida and Missouri have been the latest states to act on the issue.
Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt (R) signed into law MO Senate Bill 1034, which requires dealers to obtain a copy of photo identification from sellers who are not regular business customers and are offering more than $50 worth of copper, brass, bronze or aluminum. Transaction records need to be kept for two years and available for inspection by law enforcement.
The Missouri Information and Analysis Center (MIAC) has developed a state-wide database on metal theft to share with investigators, who as of late April were working on a reported 240 metal thefts in the state with losses exceeding $1 million.
A bill recently signed by Florida Governor Charlie Crist (R) as of Oct. 1 will require scrap-metal dealers to name or describe the person who sold them the metal and to get their telephone number and address and verify their personal identification card. A thumbprint of the seller would be required, and the scrap-metal dealers would be required to install a camera or videotape to document their transactions.
Despite cracking down on copper thieves, some states continue to struggle with the problem because they are within a short drive of neighboring states that have not enacted anti-theft ordinances. This has suggested that federal legislation might be needed.
A draft bill currently being circulated for discussion on Capitol Hill would require secondary metal recyclers to document transactions or face penalties for noncompliance. The legislation would not preempt states from enforcing stricter penalties.
For more information, e-mail Elizabeth Ambrose at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8253.
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