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Metal Recycling News February 21, 2015 04:00:38 AM

Crackdown on Kansas scrap metal theft gains Senate approval

Paul Ploumis
ScrapMonster Author
Penalties for scrap metal theft in Kansas would rise significantly under a bill given first round approval by the state Senate Wednesday

Crackdown on Kansas scrap metal theft gains Senate approval

KANSAS CITY (Scrap Monster): Penalties for scrap metal theft in Kansas would rise significantly under a bill given first round approval by the state Senate Wednesday.

The bill would classify scrap metal theft as a level six felony, which would put repeat offenders behind bars and would also create a database of scrap items with the goal of helping law enforcement track down thieves and punish dealers trading in stolen goods.

Senators from both major parties spoke in favor of the bill, saying that current laws do not adequately punish offenders who often do thousands of dollars in damage while removing metal components from expensive equipment in homes and businesses.

Republican Sen. Michael O'Donnell of Wichita said it would be "one of the most important pieces of legislation that is passed for the citizens of Sedgwick County this entire legislative session."

Kansas law enforcement officials have said that scrap thefts have more than tripled since 2009 and the value of stolen goods has reached into the millions. Copper piping and wiring have become particularly prized since copper's commodity price soared from $1.50 per pound in 2008 to $4.50 two years later. It is still above $2.50 a pound.

Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, a Democrat from Topeka, said a youth baseball organization he is involved with had incurred significant costs because thieves had stolen the copper from its field's lights and power cords. He said the bill would "go a long way toward addressing what particularly in urban communities is a significant problem."

Lawmakers objected to an earlier version of the bill, which would have made scrap theft a level five felony and put first-time offenders behind bars for 11 to 34 months. Under the amended version of the bill, first-time offenders without prior convictions would receive probation.

Courtesy: www2.ljworld.com

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