Alberta introduces bill to stop copper wire theft Created: 11/16/2010 4:54:48 PMCopper wire theft has become such a major problem in Alberta that the Canadian province is set to pass a law to require scrap metal dealers to collect personal information during transactions, the Calgary Herald reports.
The bill would amend the Scrap Metal Dealers and Recyclers Act and resembles a law the city of Calgary passed in 1998 to deter copper wire theft.
In addition to being dangerous, copper wire theft is very costly. In just two weeks in August, thieves stole $10,000 of copper wire from Enmax substations in Calgary. Copper wire sales at scrap heaps provide thieves with a significant amount of money. In one recent week, 150 people traded 11,300 kilograms of scrap copper for up to $60,000 at Calgary’s six main dealers.
"Scrap copper appears to be easily sold in Alberta,” said Enmax spokeswoman Doris Kaufmann. “The impact on Enmax is the cost related to the replacement of copper.”
The economic downturn has coincided with a 30 percent rise in the value of copper, which has led to an increase in thefts.
Canada is not the only country dealing with copper wire theft and its potential threats. Recently, a copper wire thief in Pennsylvania caused a power outage for 4,000 people when he tried to steal from a Met-Ed stubstation. He also suffered severe electrical burns.
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