Penalties for scrap metal theft debated

Nevada lawmakers on Friday debated a bill to boost penalties for thieves who steal copper wiring and then peddle it on the street or to recycling firms.

The Assembly Judiciary Committee was told that copper theft cost the Las Vegas Public Works Department over $450,000 in 2007 alone, and a stretch of U.S. 95 in southern Nevada was without lights for several months because copper was stolen from lights along the highway.

"As a firefighter, I have been involved in fighting fires that likely were the result of someone stealing copper wire and pipes," said Assemblyman John Oceguera, D-Las Vegas, who introduced the bill.

He said one fire in December, thought to have been sparked by a copper theft, caused $15,000 in damages to a home.

Matthew Frazer, representing electrical contractors in Reno, said copper wire thieves have made it tough for him to complete installation of freeway signs that alert drivers to treacherous road conditions or missing persons.

"We feel this is critical to the public, and we've had jobs that we couldn't finish because people were stealing the copper faster than we could finish," Frazer said. "We often thought we might hire them if they could pass a drug test, because they're pretty hardworking."

The FBI last year reported that copper theft threatens the infrastructure of the country, because scrap metal thieves target electrical substations, cellular towers, telephone land lines, railroads, water wells, construction sites and vacant homes.

The report said in April 2008 five tornado warning sirens in the Jackson, Miss., area didn't warn residents of an approaching tornado because thieves had stripped the sirens of copper wiring and left them inoperable.

The bill also would step up regulation of scrap metal processors, and prohibit buyers from purchasing scrap metal from a seller who lacks a valid business license. It also would require processors to keep a record book of each purchase of scrap metal. If a person sells over $150 worth of scrap metal, a processor would have to pay by check or electronic transfer, which would help law enforcement looking for thieves.

"People who commit these crimes often try to sell the stolen metal in smaller amounts to different recyclers or processors, often all in the same day," Oceguera said. "So it is critical for these businesses to work together and communicate effectively to help stop the criminal activity."