Arizona City Looks to Crack Down on Scrap Metal Theft

High prices for metals causing more theft from area.

Published January 03, 2006

In response to significant theft of scrap metal from various businesses, the city of Tucson, AZ, is considering requiring more stringent procedures for scrap recyclers. According to local press reports, the proposed new rules would mandate the following: Sellers would have to show identification to sell scrap metal; scrap recyclers would have to report any scrap metal transactions to police, including the license plate of the seller’s vehicle; it would be illegal for a seller to provide false information to the scrap recycler; and scrap metal recycler who did not follow the new code could have their operating license revoked.

The issue has become a more pressing issue as record prices for scrap copper, among other metals, has resulted in widespread theft of various scrap metals throughout the country.

 

According to the Arizona Daily Star, law enforcement in the Tucson area are investigating hundreds of cases involving material from $2450,000 to $1 million worth of good and property damage.

 

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