Organized metal theft

The law targets coordinated theft and resale of copper and other metals from infrastructure, utilities, railroads, and communications systems. It adds penalties aimed at theft networks whose conduct can disrupt power, transportation, lighting, and emergency communications.

What the law does ​

• Makes it a crime to work with others to steal covered metal for value, knowingly receive or possess stolen covered metal with a group, steal as part of an organized plan, or recruit, manage, or finance metal theft.
• Allows felony or misdemeanor punishment when covered theft, receipt, or possession occurs on at least two occasions in 12 months and the combined value exceeds $950.
• Allows felony or misdemeanor punishment for people who recruit, coordinate, organize, supervise, direct, manage, or finance metal theft.
• Makes other covered group theft, receipt, or possession offenses punishable by up to one year in county jail.
• Permits fact finders to consider relevant evidence of coordinated theft activity, specialized removal tools, and metal marked as belonging to utilities, railroads, telecommunications providers, or public utility entities.
• Clarifies that a scrap recycler's ordinary-course purchase for resale alone does not prove it acted with others in an organized theft.

Who it affects ​

• People who participate in, organize, direct, or finance coordinated theft or resale of covered metal.
• Scrap-metal buyers and recyclers handling metal that may be stolen.
• Utilities, railroads, telecommunications providers, public entities, and residents affected by metal theft from infrastructure.

Context ​

The new crime does not prevent prosecutors from also pursuing vandalism charges or specified sentencing enhancements.