Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Bust of Metal's Theft Suspect in Helena Highlights Importance of Recent Law and Cooperation by Businesses, Law Enforcement, and Recyclers!

Metals theft has hurts businesses and communities across Montana. The damage to equipment, productivity losses, and piece of mind caused by the theft far exceeds the cash value of the metal itself when it is recycled. With the support of the recycling industry, the 61st Montana Legislature passed Senate Bill 247 to help law enforcement, communities, and the recycling industry establish the tools needed to catch metal thieves. The 2009 law requires making a copy of the sellers ID for any transaction over fifty dollars and that detailed records be kept for the purchase of non-ferrous and precious metals. Additionally, the scrap recycling industry has setup ScrapTheftAlert.com to instantly get the word out about any metals theft to the surrounding area. 

The following news stories highlight recent success of the 2009, ScrapTheftAlert.com, and good communication by the victims of the metals theft, the recycler, and local law enforcement.  Eric Meredith, Helena Branch Manager for Pacific Steel and Recycling, was able to alert all of their branches throughout our region following a detailed letter by Mr. Wenger of Northside Welding & Fabrication. The Helena Police Department quickly opened a case file and filed an alert with ScrapTheftAlert.com. When some of the stolen material showed up days later in Missoula, the records were in place to clearly identify the suspect and link him to the stolen materials. The arrest of the suspect in East Helena yielded additional material, likely to be connected to additional theft at a Montana Rail Link property and at a construction site in Helena.

Recycle Montana is pleased to celebrate this recent success in stemming a recent wave of copper thefts in Helena, but there is much more to be done. We will continue to work across the state to ensure the law is followed, that tools to catch metal thieves are utilized, and that policies and practices to end metals continue to improve.

Recent Coverage of Metals Thief Arrest in Helena Area:


Recycling company pushes for cooperation in reporting scrap thefts

Man arrested for $23,000 in metal theft


JANUARY 25, 2013 1:22 PM  •  BY SANJAY TALWANI INDEPENDENT RECORD


Suspect arrested in Helena welding supply thefts


Posted: Jan 25, 2013 5:41 PM by Evan Weborg - MTN News
Updated: Jan 25, 2013 5:42 PM



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