Metals Theft

(Frankfort, August 4, 2014)
A diverse group of business, industry and public agency leaders is joining forces to reduce the metals theft problem in the Bluegrass. This follows the goals set out in a successful change to state law in 2012 had a provision for a Metals Theft Working Group.
Read more

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 433 to establish definitions; establish a registration system for secondary metal recyclers to be administered by the Public Protection Cabinet; require a background check for each secondary metal recycler by the Kentucky State Police; limit payment for restricted metal items to check-only; require secondary metal recyclers to keep records of restricted metal item purchases; require secondary metals recyclers to be able to receive notices about restricted metal thefts from law enforcement; recommend creation of a Recyclable Metals Theft Prevention Working Group to begin meeting no later than August 15, 2012. Read more

That crime is influenced by economic factors is one of the oldest propositions in criminology. For at least 150 years, criminologists have shown a keen interest in understanding how changes in macroeconomic conditions, such as levels of unemployment or poverty, are associated with differing rates of crime (Becker 1968; Cohen and Felson 1979; Merton 1938). Download full pdf

Headlines

Bandits Get Away With Co-op’s Car and Copper

Published: June 17th, 2014 in: Copper TheftThieves not only got copper from an Ohio electric cooperative, they also stole a co-op car to make off with it. Tricounty Rural Electric Cooperative’s facility in Malinta was hit either late May 21 or early the... Read more

Report: Copper Theft War Not Over

Published: May 20th, 2014 in: Copper Theft, Top Story The war on copper theft is far from over, but there’s reason for guarded optimism. A new National Insurance Crime Bureau report found the number of metal theft claims fell more than 26 percent between 2011 and... Read more

Copper Theft Summit Brings Leaders Together

Published: May 1st, 2014 in: Copper Theft Copper theft isn’t going away. So, leaders from four southern states recently put their heads together to look at ways to fight the scourge. “Due to high metal prices, metal of any kind from cars on the... Read more

New Metal Theft Law in Michigan

Published: April 21st, 2014 in: Copper TheftCopper Theft Electric cooperatives are praising a new law to fight copper theft in Michigan. “Michigan’s electric co-ops appreciate the fact that the legislature took the initiative to pass this bill,” said Casey Clark, director of communications and marketing... Read more

Iowa Co-ops Take on Copper Theft

Published: October 22nd, 2013 in: Copper TheftCopper Theft Copper theft has been hitting Iowa’s electric utilities hard. Now they’re fighting back with a tool that’s long been used to catch killers and other criminals. Electric cooperatives, investor-owned and municipal utilities are teaming up with Crime... Read more

Copper Theft Hits Tenn. Co-op Hard

Published: October 15th, 2013 in: Copper Theft Copper thieves hit a Tennessee electric cooperative for several thousand dollars in a burglary that one official described as well thought out. “What really struck me was they were very calculated, very organized. They knew what they... Read more

California Copper Theft Bills Vetoed

Published: October 8th, 2013 in: Copper Theft Two copper theft bills have been vetoed by California Gov. Jerry Brown. The first measure, AB 841, would have banned cash payments for copper and other metals. Instead, scrap dealers would have had to mail a check... Read more

Stolen Copper Returned to Co-op

Published: September 23rd, 2013 in: Copper Theft An electric cooperative has its stolen copper wire back, thanks to surveillance video, quick work by law enforcement and a suspect’s decision that helped lead police right to him. Berkeley Electric Cooperative had just over 300 pounds... Read more

N.J. Gov. Vetoes Copper Theft Bill

Published: September 17th, 2013 in: Copper Theft Efforts to crack down on copper theft suffered a surprise setback in New Jersey with the veto of a bill requiring scrap dealers to keep records of their purchases. Recyclers would have had to send electronic purchase... Read more

Copper Theft Rewards Pay Off

Published: August 5th, 2013 in: Copper Theft, Top Story Copper theft was “getting out of control” and Southeastern Electric Cooperative knew it had to act. The result was a reward program that has made a dramatic change. The co-op saw things coming to a head in... Read more