NEW: City Adopts Law to Regulate Sales of Copper and Scrap Metal
Thursday, June 21, 2012
The Council approved an ordinance on June 7th, that the police department hopes will help track stolen metals, especially copper. Councilman David A. Salvatore (Ward 14) introduced the ordinance after a neighborhood meeting in Wanskuck at which he heard about the increasing numbers of thefts of copper from both occupied and unoccupied properties.
According to police department records, there were 190 burglaries in the city in 2011 which involved the theft of copper heating and or plumbing elements. Councilman Salvatore said that, “The high market value for copper, as well as other metals, has led to an increase in theft from residential properties in recent years. While the majority of thefts take place in vacant and/or foreclosed properties, we are seeing thefts from occupied properties as well.”
An ordinance on the books since the 1940s regulated the purchase and sale of old metals, but it was outdated. Salvatore worked with the City’s law department to modernize the law, and make it easier to enforce. “The goal in updating the ordinance is to put mechanisms in place to make things more difficult for those who buy and sell stolen copper,” said Salvatore.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTUnder the new law, junk and secondhand dealers will be required to keep detailed records of the metals they are purchasing; will only be permitted to purchase metals from individuals who present identification; and must hold onto the property for a period of ten (10) days before reselling or modifying. Violations may result in fines, or revocation of business license. The ordinance does not apply to the purchase or sale of metals weighing one ton or more.
Salvatore noted that, “The police department’s intent is to strenuously enforce this law, because these types of thefts are ravaging Providence neighborhoods, further destabilizing areas already devastated by property foreclosures and abandonments.”
