Theft of valuable metal a growing problem in Utah

Crime » Private, public property targeted as commodity prices soar.

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Two Utah lawmakers hope to add more rules for metal recyclers this year.

Rep. Dixon Pitcher, R-Ogden, is drafting legislation that would require a thumb print from people who sell scrap, which is now required of pawn shops. Pitcher said the proposal was inspired by scores of calls he gets from constituents whose property has been damaged by metal thieves. In his district, homeowners, businesses, schools and churches have all been hit, Pitcher said. He and fellow Rep. Jack Draxler, R-Logan, will likely combine two similar proposals into one bill, he said.

"These [bills] are very driven by constituents who are very financially hurt," Pitcher said.

Chris Lewon, vice president of Utah Metal Works, said honest companies like his would be hurt by tougher regulations, which he maintains won’t deter thieves. "It’s the backwards way of looking at it," he said. "You’re taking the problem to a more clandestine place."

Instead, he said, communication between metal recyclers and authorities should be improved. Lewon said his company tries to help police as much as possible. Everyone who sells metal at the shop has to show identification and is recorded on video, but the company also takes note of license plate numbers. Employees are told to set aside and report any material that seems suspicious via an unofficial e-mail tree shared between various recyclers, police investigators and prosecutors.

If someone reports a theft right away and police act on that report quickly enough, the company’s efforts can sometimes help in tracking down a thief, he said. But, he added, "we are not trained as police officers."

A little bit of individual responsibility goes a long way, Lewon said. People should assume that a piece of metal is as valuable to a thief as an unattended stereo or unlocked car. In fact, scrap metal businesses are just as often victims of theft themselves, Lewon said.

"Thieves want the easiest target they can get," he said. When someone doesn’t realize that a piece of equipment might be ripe for scrap thieves, "it’s like waving dollar bills out there."

kbennion@sltrib.com

Twitter: @KimballBennion

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