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August 2, 2008

Salvage yards frustrate police

By Patrick McCreless

Cullman Police Capt. Max Bartlett is frustrated.

Though Bartlett and his fellow officers would like nothing better than to arrest every copper thief in the area, they often find their investigations hindered by — of all things — incomplete paperwork.

Bartlett said the overwhelming majority of copper stolen in the county is sold to local recyclers and salvage yards, some of which do not keep proper records of their transactions.

“It’s just been very frustrating for law enforcement ... when we track down where the copper is being sold, and then the records there are incomplete,” Bartlett said. “There are some recyclers that cooperate very well and then there are some we’re having problems with. It makes it tough for us to make a case.”

District Attorney Wilson Blaylock, who must prosecute many of Cullman’s copper thieves, understands Bartlett’s frustration.

“What we see sometimes is their (recyclers) records not being kept or not accurate. We want the help of the recyclers in Cullman County, for them to get this information and maintain this information.”

Chief Deputy Tony Quick of the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office said his agency has also had its share of problems investigating copper thefts.

“A lot of times when they’re (recyclers) buying that copper they do not know they’re buying stolen property because it’s been altered or changed, so it’s very important they cooperate.”

Blaylock said the Alabama Legislature passed a law in 2007 which imposed many new record-keeping guidelines on salvage yard owners to help law enforcement agencies track down copper thieves.

According to the law, a recycler cannot use cash to buy copper that is worth more than $100.

“If it’s over that, it has to be paid with a check,” Blaylock said. “They’ve got to keep up with who they wrote that check to.”

The law states a metal recycler must maintain a legible record of all purchase transactions that includes the name and address of the customer, the date of the transaction and the weight, quantity and type of metal purchased. A metal recycler must also list the amount paid, get a signed statement from the customer stating he or she is the rightful owner of the metal, the customer’s car tag number, a description of the customer’s vehicle and their driver’s license number.

The law also gives law enforcement officers the right to check a recycler’s records during normal business hours.

Any recycler who knowing and willingly does not keep proper records for a metal transaction is guilty of a misdemeanor unless that transaction exceeds $250.

“In that case, they’re guilty of a Class C felony,” Blaylock said.

Class C felonies are punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Blaylock said the help of local recyclers is more important now than ever due to the recent surge of large copper thefts in the county.

“Copper thefts have just been outrageous in the last several months,” Blaylock said. “With the price of copper going up, we are seeing things like more people stealing copper wiring and copper coils out of air-conditioners.”

One of the more recent copper thefts in the county occurred last month at a gravel quarry in Good Hope.

“Their crusher was stripped of copper wiring,” Blaylock said. “And the electrical underground wiring to all operations ... was pulled out of the ground.”

The thieves stole approximately $1,400 worth of copper and caused approximately $140,000 worth of damage, Blaylock said. Two suspects were later arrested in the case.

“We’re doing everything we can, and we’re just asking for cooperation and for recyclers to just be mindful of the law,” Blaylock said.

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