In June 2008, the price of copper hit $4 a pound, fueling a nationwide rash of copper theft. Thieves targeted anything with copper --utility lines, pipes, fittings, and condensing units.

As the economy waned and the construction market flagged, the price of copper came down and the crime wave subsided. In January, the price of copper had dropped to a little more than $1 a pound.

That may have been the bottom of the trough. Copper is now selling for $3 a pound and thieves are taking notice. A new wave of copper theft has police departments and utilities scrambling to catch up.

ACCA is an active member of a coalition of trade associations and retailers pushing to enact tougher laws to put an end to copper theft. Legislation introduced in the House and Senate would set minimum requirements for scrap dealers and metal recyclers to collect identification information from those who bring metal to a scrap yard. The bills would not overturn the laws already on the books in several states.

The bills would require the scrap dealer or metal recycler to record the date of the transaction, the weight, amount paid, and the condition of the metal, and the name, driver's license or other number, and license plate number of the person who brings the copper to the scrap dealer. Frequent scrap metal recyclers would be able to use a streamlined process to avoid delays. Transactions that exceed $75 must be paid for by check only, payable to the name and address of the person who is recycling the precious metal.

The bills do not make receiving stolen copper a criminal penalty; however, civil penalties for violations include fines for recyclers of up to $10,000.

Have you been the victim or copper theft lately or witnessed the results? When we asked this question two years ago we received dozens of stories from contractors who found condensing units broken apart for the copper inside.