A proposed law could help reduce the problem of copper theft.
Reports of copper thefts are rising across the state. A new initiative would put new restrictions on recyclable metal sales, in an attempt to thwart the trend. No one unauthorized should ever be in those facilities, and we see that happening, it's dangerous and could be fatal. Duane Noland is the president of the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives. He says the thefts are not only costly to the people being ripped off, but the lives of the burglars are also at stake. Noland says people have gone into high voltage substations seeking metal:
These thieves are playing with fire and should be discouraged. And I think increased penalties might be the deterrent to some of them."
Noland knows of a couple cases where intruders have died. A measure that would increase the penalties for copper and recyclable metal thefts passed a House committee earlier this month. It would require metal dealers to record all purchases of recyclable metal. Currently they only have to record purchases of $100 dollars or more. It would also penalize dealers who purchase materials marked as belonging to businesses or the government. Convicted thieves would be required to pay for not only the metal they took, but also damage
to property.
The legislation is HB3825
