 "Photo: Kristen D. Tucker")
Copper thefts have declined in Austin since last year, but scrap metal thefts continue to plague the city and the University.
Austin police reports show that 333 copper thefts occurred from January to June this year, compared with 478 during the same time last year. The number of thefts continues to be a national problem, and the annual total may be higher than 830 (the total amount of copper thefts in 2007), because each month's total can be sporadic, said Austin police spokesman James Mason.
Mason said recent legislation requiring recycling plants to keep records of who brings in metal to be recycled has probably had an impact on the number of thefts.
"At least now they have more accountability within the remanufacturing companies," Mason said. "Hopefully, that's doing something, just not taking recycling from anybody."
A representative of Beaman Metal Co. on East Fifth Street said anyone can bring in scrap metal as long as they are able to provide identification. There is usually no way to tell where the scrap metal comes from when it is brought in, he said.
UTPD spokesman Darrell Halstead said the University is not exempt from thefts for scrap metal. Thieves on campus tend to target recycling bins and construction sites on campus, he said.
"We've been very fortunate that we haven't had a lot of thefts like that, but we've had cases where we've had copper, brass, aluminum, all kinds of stuff stolen," Halstead said.
Halstead also said police suggest construction companies limit the amount of supplies on their sites at any given time. Police also encourage companies to limit access to their sites by looking for proper credentials, but many thefts still occur at night, he said.
Mason said Austin police recently began taking special notice of the number of catalytic converters stolen from vehicles after seeing an increase in thefts. Last year, three converters were stolen from cars, compared to 36 stolen between January and August of this year, he said.
Mason said recent scrap metal thefts targeted brass fixtures on gravestones, but the department has seen thefts of copper wires from air-conditioning units and in homes under construction. He said police district representatives warn construction companies around the city of the possibility of thefts, but anyone can steal scrap metal.
"It could be anybody that's out to make a buck," Mason said.
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