Deterring Metal Theft

Businesses in the city of Jackson reported metal theft totaling over $300,000 between 2006 and 2007. Hattiesburg businesses reported similar totals for the same time period. (See table below)

SB 2929 and HB 1136 have been progressing through the Legislature with the hope of deterring this fast growing crime. Both bills passed yesterday and will now move on to the next step in the legislative process.

Daycare owner and director, Jondra Robinson, thinks it will be a good idea to pass such a law. Her business, Color World Daycare, located on West Fortification St., was hit last summer. “I had to shut down for one entire day to make repairs,” states Robinson. “I took home four of the little children to my own home to care for. I thank God for my parents who were so understanding during that time.”

Addie Holifield, business manager of the Magnolia Speech School, is another victim of copper theft who hopes the bill becomes law. “I think it would be great to see if they can put a stop to this,” states Holifield. “We will be out thousands of dollars because we are going to have to put up cages around the units and a fence around the school.” The school has not recouped its losses from the theft which occurred last summer and reached into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Both bills seek to require that recyclers keep documentation of the metal being sold as well as identification of the seller and that information is made available to law enforcement. But the key provision of the bill is to put an end to cash transactions over the counter, which is the motivation for the thefts in the first place. Instead of paying cash, the recycling business will be required to write a check to the seller.

SafeCity supports the bills and will continue to keep you updated on their progress.

To view another related story on metal theft, click here.