People looking to illegally traffic copper wire and other industrial materials may find it more difficult to find buyers for their goods. Beginning Sunday, a new state law goes into effect further restricting the buying and selling of industrial materials.
House Bill 1035 states that anyone selling 10 pounds or more of copper must register with the sheriff in the county where the material is being sold. The bill also requires that photo identification must be presented not only when copper is sold, but also when aluminum materials and railroad track materials are sold. Lowndes County Sheriff Mike Arledge said he has not studied the law and is not yet familiar with the amended legislation.
Although illegally obtaining and selling railroad track materials is not as common as the theft of copper wire, the Columbus Police Department recently arrested three men for allegedly stealing railroad materials.
Ricky Don Sellers, 49 of 250 3rd Ave., Forrest, Lionel Hampton Jr, 21, of 75 Reeves Drive and Lamar Coby Williams, 31, of 75 Reeves Drive were arrested by the Columbus Police Department on June 26 and charged with grand larceny. Reports stated officers were dispatched to Second Street South near the railroad track after a call that said three men were stealing railroad plates. The officers found the men in a black GMC truck at 1509 8th St. S. after the vehicle had a blowout. The railroad plates were allegedly found in the truck.
Sellers, who is out on bond, was arrested two days later for his connection with another theft of industrial materials. He was charged with felonious grand larceny. His bond was set at $35,000 and he had not made bond at press time.
The law also prohibits the transfer of scrap metal to other states for the purpose of selling and it says scrap metal cannot be collected or sold between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
“What this law is attempting to do is stop the selling of illegal scrap metal, ” Gary Chism (R-Columbus) said. “Copper has gotten to be high-priced and there has been an increase of stolen copper. In Jackson, someone stole the down spouts off of the Episcopal church and they cut the cables to the emergency sirens in Hinds County and removed them. Thieves are showing up and stealing materials while people are having new homes built. They show up in the night and steal copper and other materials. This law is another set of safeguards against people who are stealing and trying to sell industrial materials.”
Although some restrictions are enforced in the purchasing of scrap metal, HB 1035 makes it even harder for illegal metal sales by requiring purchasers to keep photo or video documentation of both the seller and the merchandise being sold.
With copper selling for $2.65 (#1 copper) and $2.45 (#2 copper) a pound, Columbus Police Department Public Information Officer Glenda Buckhalter said copper theft seems to be occurring more in the city.
“I wouldn’t say it’s something we see every day, but it is something people need to be made aware of,” Buckhalter said. “People buying copper need to make sure the person they are purchasing it from has the proper paper-work. I would encourage purchaser to be wary of someone that seems too eager to negotiate a price and someone who is trying to regularly unload some scrap metal.”
Stealing industrial materials including copper is classified as larceny and achieves grand larceny felony status if the amount of stolen goods is valued at over $500.
Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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