New law targets copper theft

In July, thieves climbed the roof of a commercial plaza in University City and stole the copper inner workings from a row of air conditioners.

The resulting reports from business owners were enough to trigger a crime alert to the public from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s University City division.

Scrapyard owners such as Michael Torrence of Foil’s Inc. in Harrisburg, hopes the Metal Theft Prevention Act of 2012 will curb the problem that’s been plaguing the industry for the past few years.

The new law prohibits cash payouts for copper. It will take effect Oct. 1 and follows behind other states that are grappling with the same issues.

It also requires copper sellers to be photographed and their vehicles’ makes, models and license tags recorded.

Many of the new rules have long been standard practice in his scrapyard, said Torrence, who already records driver and vehicle information by hand and through a 32-camera system that monitors the facility.

Scrapyard owners who don’t follow the rules cause just as much of a problem as the thieves, said Torrence.

“It’s the people that are not doing it correctly, not checking the IDs, buying from the guy that’s on the no-buy list. That’s the real issue.”

Copper thefts, although not an epidemic, continue to be a nagging concern.

Since the summer’s six copper thefts within a close proximity no others have been reported in University City. But earlier in the year, UNC Charlotte police arrested two people stealing $12,000 to $14,000 worth of copper wire from the university’s Epic Building.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Lieutenant Dave Johnson said it’s just a matter of time before the trend surfaces again.

“As long as the price of scrap copper is high, it’s going to be a problem,” Johnson said.

Copper trades as a commodity, and the price per pound in the past few months has fluctuated in the $3 to $4 range.

Copper thefts have always been hard to get a handle on, because criminals tend to target places left vacant for long periods at a time. They gut the air-conditioning units of businesses closed for the weekend, and they case neighborhoods nearly abandoned by high foreclosure rates.

A foreclosure notice attached to the door tips off criminals, who, once inside, have ample time to rip open the walls and steal its copper pipes and wiring.

A skilled copper thief, said Johnson, can be in and out fairly quickly.

“It’s tough to catch these guys until they go to scrap it,” said Johnson. “But even then it’s tough to identify where the scrap came from.”