![]() ![]() "But as long as you have yards that are not following the rules, we'll have problems." "A lot of businesses are trying to address the problem - and turning people away if they have suspicious items," Green said. "I think police are overwhelmed to a large degree by the situation."Īccording to Green, at his business, customers must give their driver's license before JW Green Co. "This is such an epidemic," he said, referring to scrap thefts. of Plainville, and former president of the New England chapter of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries. "There is severe lack of enforcement (against scrap businesses) across the board," said Jerry Green, vice president of a scrap-recycling business, JW Green Co. The businesses are required to file reports on metal they purchase with police, but these reports are often too vague to be of any use to investigators. When asked, police are hard-pressed to give examples of enforcement, though a police sting in New Haven resulted in a scrap business employee's arrest in 2008. Police enforcement action against the businesses or their employees for not following the rules has been rare. The Register's investigation showed some businesses bought scrap from us without requiring identification, and some took in suspicious, potentially stolen items, like the Register honor boxes and copper pipe, without question.ĪT A GLANCE: Results of Register scrap metal investigation ![]() Police describe it as a nationwide problem. Thieves have targeted everything from wiring atop utility poles to memorial plaques for veterans in their quest to make quick money. Fletcher’s and my presentations can be downloaded here.The Register's two-month investigation exposed potential loopholes in laws designed to crack down on metal theft. Her presentation included the identification of frequently stolen items.Ī copy of the Summit agenda and the slides from Mr. Peggy Fletcher, Senior Investigator of AT&T Asset Protection, provided an overview of that organization’s attempt to deter scrap theft. In particular, I noted the ARA’s interest in ensuring enforcement identifies rogue operators through strict inspection and enforcement activities.įinally, Ms. I also described the role of the ARA in helping draft the current scrap theft laws. My presentation focused on the 28-year history that the Association has played in ensuring that the importance of the scrap industry from an Arkansas and a national standpoint is recognized. I was asked, as General Counsel of the Arkansas Recyclers Association (“ARA”), to undertake a presentation. He noted the constructive role that many scrap facilities have played in helping law enforcement. Svetz’s presentation focused on the laws in Arkansas intended to deter scrap theft. The scrap metal theft section of the Summit included three presentations. The division was created and funded by the Arkansas General Assembly to specifically focus on scrap theft in the second to last Arkansas legislative session. Stephen Svetz, Special Agent for the AAG’s office, heads this division. The Arkansas Attorney General created a division that focuses on scrap metal theft. For example, the Arkansas scrap theft statutory provisions provide significant recordkeeping requirements for scrap yards and related provisions. ![]() Over the last several sessions of Arkansas legislature, laws to deter scrap theft and enable and facilitate the arrest of offenders have been modernized and expanded. The theft of scrap metals (particularly nonferrous) has posed a problem in both Arkansas and the nation. ![]() These exports are valued at $16.5 billion. In addition, ISRI estimates that 30 to 40 percent of all scrap processed in the United States is exported. The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (“ISRI”) estimates that scrap recycling contributed on a national basis $116 billion and provided over 155,000 jobs. These activities conserve energy, natural resources and contribute to the protection of the environment. The recovery, recycling, and processing of various scrap materials, including metals, has been an important activity in Arkansas and the nation for over 100 years. The Summit included a section addressing “scrap metal theft.” The Summit was attended by over 500 Arkansas law enforcement personnel. The Arkansas Attorney General (“AAG”) held a 2017 Law Enforcement Summit (“Summit”) on October 3rd. ![]()
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