Riverside County Supervisors Urge State Lawmakers to Pass Metal Theft Law

Riverside County Supervisors are backing a bill aimed at stopping metal theft. Copper wiring, brass fixtures and even bronze statues are routinely ripped off by thieves hoping to cash in on the soaring price of metals. KPCC's Steven Cuevas says it's a big problem throughout the Inland Empire.

Steven Cuevas: Even Riverside County Supervisors Jeff Stone and Marion Ashley have tales of metal theft.

Jeff Stone: As you know, we lost all of our bronze icons out in the wine country identifying all the wineries out there that've been replaced with granite now!

Marion Ashley: I played a round a golf a few months ago someplace and they had just put this big brass monument commemorating the first hole, and somebody came in and yanked that out and stole that. I mean, they'll get it anywhere!

Cuevas: Both supervisors are pressuring state lawmakers to pass a metal theft bill that would require scrap dealers to accept metals only from people who show an ID. They'd also have to pay the sellers by check, photograph the material, and keep a record of the transaction. That way, the sale and the seller can be traced. Supervisor Bob Buster.

Supervisor Bob Buster: It has the main elements in place that our law enforcement personnel feel they need to effectively police what is now an anonymous cash, illegal industry taking place here in front of our very noses.

Cuevas: Last year, Riverside County tallied about a thousand thefts of metals worth more than two-and-a half million dollars. Supervisor Marion Ashley.

Ashley: They'll probably even go into a church and get it. It's that bad.

Cuevas: The state assembly could vote on the metal theft bill next week.