Task force targets stolen copper

By Margaret Newkirk

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Shortly before Thanksgiving, when copper thieves using a deer stand cut down 11 big sections of AT&T’s overhead phone lines in Fairburn, they took that copper somewhere to sell.

And somebody somewhere had to buy it — which is why area police, copper-heavy utilities such as AT&T or Georgia Power and the region’s metal recyclers get together once a month.

The group is trying to calm what has become a white-hot stolen copper market.

“It’s supply and demand,” said Atlanta Police Lt. Mike Giugliano, who oversees the effort. Demand from China is “driving the price of copper now. So the recyclers are hungry for copper and the price keeps going up.”

Recyclers play a key role in the copper supply chain — and are one way stolen copper gets to market.

Atlanta police combine “very good relationships with the recycling industry” with the occasional “integrity check” — also known as a sting.

Controlling copper theft isn’t easy, Giugliano said.

Linking a piece of copper to a theft victim is often impossible. And it’s often stolen from locations that aren’t regularly occupied, such as empty houses, a church or — in the city of Atlanta — temporarily closed park buildings. That means no one reports the theft for days or weeks, giving thieves ample time to sell.

Recyclers are supposed to avoid buying stolen copper. But those in the industry say it’s not always easy to distinguish it from the legitimately-obtained copper that plumbers, electricians and demolition companies sell.

Bruce Berman, a manager with Metro Alloys in East Point, said legitimate recyclers “are very proactive. We photograph all of the material we get, the vehicle it comes in and the sellers.”

“But it can come in so co-mingled that it’s hard to sort out,” he said.

Wiring with insulation burned off is one clue. Utilities put identification on the insulation. Or, “if a homeless guy comes up with a Herby Curby full of air conditioner coils, that’s a clue,” said Giugliano.

Law enforcement and industry won a new law two years ago requiring some changes in requirements for recyclers. They now can’t pay cash for certain kinds of copper and are required to get the seller’s ID.

An Atlanta police sting shortly afterward found a number of recyclers not following those rules. “We did integrity tests, got a bunch of officers to go in without ID and asking for cash,” said Giugliano.

“We made quite a few arrests in that, but most of the prosecutors weren’t familiar with the law so they got community service and a fine. But it got recyclers looking over their shoulder and inclined to do the right thing.”

Task force members are looking at new legislation this year. Police would like to ban purchases of copper wiring with the identifying insulation burned off, for instance.

Ultimately, he said, they’d like to see metal recyclers regulated like pawn shops, with recyclers keeping their records electronically and giving police access. That would allow police to link thefts to sales without going to every recycling company in person. The industry resists that because of competitive fears.

Maria Strollo lobbies for metal companies and says there are better ways to limit copper theft. Requiring identification on copper and stepping up prosecution would both help, she said.

But even the strictest controls on Georgia copper buyers won’t dry up the market.

“It’s a global market,” said Strollo. “They can just put it in a container and ship it straight to China.”