Measure would put hammer to statewide metal thieves

Aluminum, steel, copper taken from work sites, parks

Alan Gathright, Rocky Mountain News

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Lawmakers took aim Tuesday at a statewide epidemic of big- time metal thieves who are ripping copper piping and wiring from construction sites and city park irrigation systems.

Crooks are even carting off empty aluminum and stainless steel beer kegs - at $120 a pop - costing big brewers thousands of kegs worth millions of dollars.

"I've read where some small craft brewers actually had to stop production because they were low on kegs," said Steve Findley, president of the Colorado Beer Distributors Association.

Lawmakers say that House Bill 1141 will make it harder to cash in on hot metal by imposing felony charges on scrap recyclers who buy more than 25 pounds without properly recording a seller's driver's license, other ID, vehicle plate or fingerprint.

The main sponsors of House Bill 1141 are Rep. Nancy Todd and Sen. Suzanne Williams, both Aurora Democrats.

"This isn't just a problem in the metro area; it's a statewide problem," said Chris Olson, director of Englewood's public safety agencies and president of the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police. He was among a half- dozen regional police officials who urged passage of bill at a Capitol news conference.

The wave of thefts has been driven by copper prices that peaked in September at more than $3.50 per pound. Prices recently have dipped to about $2.50, but that's still twice early 2005 levels.

"This bill is going to send a very clear message to metal thieves that they will be held accountable when they go to sell it," Todd said. It also puts "commodity metal" recyclers on notice that there are consequences to buying stolen metal.

Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said his growing city, which is ripe with new housing construction, has been hit especially hard. Last year police recorded 83 metal burglaries totalling $1.2 million.

Often the theft rings sell the metal to fund other crimes, including illegal methamphetamine labs or feeding their own drug habits.

Police are fighting back with a regional task force that has busted theft rings. Authorities also used undercover operations to catch scrap dealers buying brass irrigation valves and metal trail signs clearly stamped with "City of Englewood" and names of other cities in the area.

Hot metal

What crooks crave

• Brass: Large park irrigation valves that cost up to $1,800.

• Copper: Residential and commercial piping, electrical wiring and refrigerator fittings. Thieves can haul away $10,000 in one heist.

• Aluminum and stainless steel: Empty beer kegs, which cost $120 to replace.