Canadian City Taking Steps to Curb Metal Theft

The City of Richmond, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and municipal police, BC Hydro, BC Transmission Corp. and Lower Mainland municipalities have joined forces in the fight against metal theft. This crime is a persistent and growing problem that puts the lives of the public, employees and first responders at risk.

"Metal theft is costing businesses, government and ultimately taxpayers millions of dollars a year- and it's costing lives. This crime demands a regional response," said Richmond RCMP Superintendent Ward Clapham. "That's why the Lower Mainland District RCMP, municipal police and municipal governments have been working together to develop initiatives to address this serious issue."

One of the initiatives of the Lower Mainland District municipal working group is a bylaw template that could be used across the region. The bylaw template, which will be introduced within the next month, will recommend all scrap metal buyers report transactions electronically and forward that information to the local police force. This will help give police and municipalities the tools they need for the next step - a coordinated enforcement strategy.

A bylaw recently adopted in the City of Richmond reflects these same objectives, and is being used as a model for the bylaw template.

"Our recent bylaw changes addressing scrap metal dealers will make it more difficult for metal thieves to sell and obtain immediate cash from stolen metal goods," said Richmond’s Mayor Malcolm Brodie. "We believe the coordinated approach we’ve taken with community partners to create these changes will produce positive results and we encourage other municipalities to join in the effort to substantially reduce this type of crime."

The multi-partner program follows a law recently passed by the city of Richmond, BC that requires scrap metal dealers to maintain a registry of metal products they buy. The law requires scrap metal dealers to hold the material for seven days if the transaction is submitted to RCMP electronically, and 21 days if it is recorded by written registry.

BC Hydro and BCTC are also taking new measures to combat metal theft. Initiatives range from increased video surveillance, micro-dot protection, and encasing copper materials in concrete at BC Hydro’s substations to providing education and advocacy.

"The safety of the public and our employees is of utmost importance to BC Hydro. Every time one of our facilities is compromised, the risk of injury or death increases exponentially," said Ray Stewart, BC Hydro’s Chief Safety, Health and Environment Officer. "Metal theft can result in power outages which impact traffic lights and 911 service. The replacement of stolen materials has already cost BC Hydro and BCTC several million dollars."

BC Transmission Corporation, which operates and maintains BC Hydro’s substations, will also be increasing signage providing instructions and contact information if the facility has been compromised.

"The safety of electrical transmission infrastructure is one of BCTC’s highest priorities. Because of the inherent risk that wire theft from substations poses to our employees and the public, we have revised our safety plans to reinforce the need for increased vigilance when on site," said Gerhard Kehl of BCTC’s Asset Program Management. "We have asked employees to complete fence patrols and integrity checks prior to entering any of our properties."