LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) -- Since June of 2011 Pulaski County Deputies worked 132 copper theft cases.
This has lawmakers calling attention to a law aimed at stopping businesses from purchasing copper from those thieves. In 2012 alone, 22 cases have been reported out of those 132.
The most recent big bust comes from Oak Grove high school. We talked to a state senator about the law in place to stop those stealing copper from gaining money.
We also spoke with a business owner who buys copper on a daily base and how he keeps the stolen copper out of his shop.
Pulaski County Deputies say someone caused $2,500.00 in property damage at Oak Grove High school and left with copper wire out of the electrical boxes. This is one of more than 130 cases Pulaski County officers worked since June of 2011 and now one state Representative is speaking out.
"As you know, around the city and state there has been a rash of metal being stolen from homeowners and buildings and various places so the whole purpose of this act is to reduce metal theft." State Representative Fred Allen co sponsored the act that requires metal buyers to check ID before purchasing copper.
Allen says the law can help diminish the growing problem of people stealing copper, and the President of Sol Alman Company agrees. "We want to be the solution not the problem, we want to deter any theft that and make sure that any recycling is done in a prudent and legal manner."
Larry Alman says they run a tight ship and check everyone's ID before they purchase any metal. "We swipe it, it goes through leads online through Dallas, which is a database that collects all information for law enforcement. Then we take a picture of the product and the person we swipe their finger prints and they have to sign an affidavit the day they got it where they got it and that they own it."
Representative Allen appreciates the work some business owners are going through to keep illegal copper out of their lot, but he still wants more businesses to follow suit so this ongoing problem can be solved.