Copper thefts down across NE Valley
Recent legislation, education through media credited with drop in thefts
by Brian DiTullio

NORTH VALLEY – While water is considered the most precious commodity in the desert, copper hasn’t been doing too bad lately, either.

Recent news reports have depicted a rash of copper thefts all over the Valley, due to soaring demand worldwide for a variety of metals and, as a result, skyrocketing prices for copper. Most of the thefts are of copper wire from power lines or tubing in air conditioning units, leaving many places hot and dark. Some stretches of freeway lighting along Interstate 10 have been put out of service by copper thieves.

Authorities are concerned about the serious safety implications and financial impacts on utilities and customers caused by thefts of copper wiring.  Another danger posed by electrical outages caused by thefts of utility lines is the potential affect on 9‑1‑1 access.

Copper is 100 percent recyclable, and prices have nearly tripled in the last year. And, until recently, some scrap metal dealers have provided a ready market for copper wire and tubing.

According to the Copper Development Association, “Recyclers, on average, pay 90 percent of the new copper price.”

However, it appears the Northeast Valley has avoided the kinds of crimes reported frequently across the Phoenix metro area over the past year.

Arizona Public Service has been a frequent victim of the thefts, since copper is a major part of a power line’s makeup, although company spokesman Damon Gross told The Desert Advocate that the Northeast Valley appears to be pretty much untouched by copper thieves.

“From our perspective, overall, copper thefts from our lines are down,” Gross said.

Sgt. Mark Clark, spokesperson for the Scottsdale Police Department, said reported copper theft crimes have also decreased in his jurisdiction. “We get the occasional theft from a construction site–unsecured piping and tubing, but that’s about it.”

There are two reasons for the recent drop in copper‑related crime, said Gross: legislation enacted in May and better education of the public through the media about the hazards of serious burns and electrocution from trying to remove copper wiring from a live power line.

The new legislation, in effect, creates a paper trail for investigators to trace copper sales to scrap metal yards.

According to the City of Phoenix, scrap metal dealers are now required to keep records of copper purchases and sales, including photos of the metal, seller, seller’s ID and fingerprints. The dealer also must send a check or money order to a seller’s physical address; cash transactions are no longer allowed.

In addition, scrap metal dealers must keep any purchased metal for a minimum of seven days before they can turn it around, and may only buy metal from people 16 or older. Only one copper transaction per day is permitted.

To further hamper thieves’ efforts, the Arizona Department of Public Safety now receives a copy of all sales information, and no dealer can accept aluminum wire 3/8‑inch or more in diameter–or any copper wire with the insulation removed.

“The new laws are certainly helpful,” Sgt. Clark said. “The thieves wouldn’t have anything to do with it if the scrap metal dealers weren’t paying money for it.”

A hotline has been established by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, and to report copper thefts call 602‑876‑1000.

Suspicious activity near an electric substation or utility pole should be immediately reported to authorities.