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Federal legislation needed to reduce copper theft problem, sheriffs say Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 By Rob Moritz Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - Despite laws passed by the Legislature last year to help reduce the number of copper thefts in the state, and new legislation recently enacted in Tennessee, some East Arkansas officials think federal legislation may be the solution to the problem plaguing farmers, utility companies, contractors and business owners. "We need a law universal across the nation," St. Francis County Sheriff Bobby May said. Copper thefts may have dropped in the central part of the state but areas within a short drive of neighboring states are still suffering because the thieves are taking their booty out-of-state for cash, May said. May, Cross County Sheriff Ronnie Baldwin and other eastern Arkansas sheriffs are to meet with U.S. Rep. Marion Berry, D-Gillett, in the next few weeks to discuss the rising copper theft problem and whether federal legislation would be a good way to tackle the issue. "It is a big problem," said May, who recently organized a meeting in Forrest City to discuss ways to reduce the thefts of copper and other metals. Nearly 250 people attended, including a representative from Berry's office. Baldwin said he is working on a county ordinance that would require anyone selling copper or other metals to get a permit from his office. Scrap metal dealers said last week that copper was being purchased for $3 to $3.50 a pound, depending on the quality. To combat the increasing incidents of copper thefts in Arkansas, the Legislature in 2007 approved and Gov. Mike Beebe signed into law three bills intended to enhance the penalties for thieves and improve bookkeeping by scrap metal dealers. Act 749, sponsored by Rep. Bruce Maloch, D-Magnolia, required scrap metal dealers to keep records of all their scrap metal dealings. Act 630 by Rep. John Lowery, D-El Dorado, created the offense of theft of scrap metal. The law increased the classification and penalty range by one level for any person convicted of stealing scrap metal if the theft causes more than $250 in damage. It also caused enhanced penalties to kick in if the person stealing the copper crossed state lines to sell or dispose of it. Act 693 by Rep. Lance Reynolds, D-Heber Springs, makes thefts of building materials valued at $2,500 or more a Class B felony, punishable by five to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000. Little Rock Dolice Department spokesman Lt. Terry Hastings said last week that his department has seen a drop in the number of incidents of copper thefts reported since the laws went into effect last July 1. Scrap metal dealers "are aware of the law and writing down the required information," Hastings said. He said detectives in his department also have met with area scrap metal dealers to make sure everyone is following the law. However, Hastings also suggested the drop in Little Rock could be because thieves are taking their scrap metal to outlying areas of the state. James Thompson, spokesman for Entergy Arkansas, said the utility still is a target for copper thieves, but the number of thefts appears to have dropped slightly this year. In December, thieves broke into an Entergy Arkansas substation in western Pulaski County, ripped out and stole a large amount of copper ground wire, causing thousands of dollars in damage and leaving more than 2,000 Entergy customers without power for three hours. "Copper thefts are a problem for us system-wide, in Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas," Thompson said. May and Cross both said they have not seen a decrease in the number of reported copper and other metal thefts since the Arkansas laws went into effect. One farmer in St. Francis County recently reported a quarter-mile of copper wire being taken from a center pivot irrigation system. It cost the farmer about $15,000 to replace the wire and repair the machine, May said. May and Baldwin both said copper thefts are out of control in eastern Arkansas because thieves find it easier to go into Tennessee and sell the copper. They said they hope Tennessee's new laws will make it harder for Arkansans to sell the copper in that state. The Tennessee Legislature earlier this month approved a measure, later signed into law by the governor, that requires scrap metal dealers to be registered and also requires people selling the copper and other metal to present identification and thumb print when selling the items. "Maybe that will help some, but I think we need more," May said, adding that his proposed federal law would be similar to the Tennessee law but go a little further. Not only would it require people selling copper to register, and require identification when they sell the items, May said his proposed federal legislation also would mandate that scrap metal dealers get a copy of the person's driver's license and license plate number. Sellers would have to provide the scrap metal dealer with a valid mailing address and a check for the copper would be mailed to them within a week. "Thieves do not like people to know where they live," May said. Chad Causey, Berry's chief of staff, said last week that the congressman is to meet with May, Baldwin and others later this month. "This has been an issue that has been growing for quite some time now," Causey said, adding Berry has met with both May and Baldwin individually and is looking forward to further discussions on what can be done to curb the copper theft problem. "This really is a hard (problem) for everyone to get their arms around," he said. While he thinks federal legislation is a good idea, the Cross County sheriff said last week he is also working with the county judge to develop a county ordinance which would require everyone selling copper or other metals to get a permit first. "If you have a fruit stand within the city limits of Wynne, you have to buy a permit," he said. "A county ordinance ... would keep an accurate count of people that are actually selling copper and other precious metals." Baldwin said he is working with the Association of Arkansas Counties and the Arkansas Sheriffs Association to develop the ordinance. "In my county, if we can get the ordinance passed, once we see how it works maybe we adopt it in surrounding counties," Baldwin said. |
