The days of quick cash for metal thieves may be over thanks to a new Oregon law where you can no longer sell scrap metal without providing detailed information.
The new law requires everyone transporting metal to get a state certificate or risk a fine of up to $1,250 or a maximum 30 days in jail.
The certificate, which can printed off the Internet, will require identifying where the metal was obtained.
Scrap metal yards must inspect the metal transportation certificate and report any suspicious behavior. Also, the days of cash transactions are over. Sellers will get checks in the mail after a 3 day waiting period.
Apparently, some thieves in Washington don't know about Oregon's new metal theft law.
Jerry Land is a volunteer at Harmony Sports Complex. Sunday morning he noticed several equipment sheds had been broken into.
"You see they were in there looking for aluminum and stuff," said Land.
Break-ins like this happen at this community owned sports complex constantly.
So many aluminum bleachers were stolen that parents have now replaced them with wood. The expensive lighting system has been stripped of all it's copper wire.
Metal thieves in SouthwestWashington have long taken advantage of Oregon's lax metal laws, which allowed scrap dealers to provide same day cash for metal.
"I sure hope Oregon's new law will make a difference and slow down this crime, " said Land.
The metal theft problem exploded in 2007 and 2008 when metal prices were at all time highs. Nothing was off limits, from bronze grave markers to railroad spikes holding tracks together.Sneaky crooks even cut out catalytic converters from cars in parking lots.
The problem slowed in 2009 after the recession sent metal prices plunging. However, prices have started to rise and so has the crime.
Just last week a Vancouver church under construction lost thousands of dollars in copper to thieves.
"They're just dirt bags all around," said Land who hopes Oregon's new law will slow down the sneaky criminals.
