Alabama D.A. working on bill to track copper sales, toughen penalties for theft

Montgomery, Al.
In Alabama, copper thieves have hit homes, churches, construction sites, Baldwin County farms, and last year, Birmingham's Christmas tree,  prompting police to keep around-the-clock patrols this month to prevent a repeat.

In a new twist, highway motorists could be their next victims. Thieves are now targeting highway streetlights and authorities are investigating whether the darkness has contributed to some crashes.

Jefferson County District Attorney Brandon Falls said earlier this month that his staff is working on a proposal for a web-based system that would track sales of scrap metals. That measure, to be introduced as a bill in the Legislature in February, would make it a Class C felony to steal or do damage to property to obtain metals to be sold for scrap.

"From $200 worth of copper wire, they're doing $15,000 worth of damage so that has to be addressed," Jefferson County Chief Assistant D.A. Bill Veitch told WBRC.

State Sen. Ben Brooks, R-Mobile, in September said he would file a bill in the Legislature to more tightly regulate the sale of copper and other metals. The coalition behind the bill includes government, law enforcement and business leaders, but passing the legislation intact could be a battle. The recycling industry lobby has scuttled a similar effort in the past.