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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
Time: 9:02 pm
Time: 9:02 pm
Results for theft offenses(u.s.)
2 results foundAuthor: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, Infrastructure Security and Energy Restoration Title: An Updated Assessment of Copper Wire Thefts from Electric Utilities Summary: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) monitors changes, threats, and risks to the energy infrastructure in the United States. As part of that responsibility, OE published research in 2007 on the theft of copper wire from electric utilities. Early in 2010 there was evidence of an increase in such thefts. Because of this increase, OE decided to update its 2007 assessment of copper wire thefts. 1 • Electric utilities have launched public awareness campaigns, offered rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of thieves, marked copper wire for easier recovery from scrap metal dealers, and collaborated with stakeholders. Copper wire theft continues today throughout the United States, but the magnitude of theft has been reduced considerably. The problem is not likely to cease as long as copper prices remain sufficiently attractive to would-be thieves. However, the combined efforts of electric utilities, lawmakers, scrap metal dealers, and local law enforcement have succeeded in reducing the problem and driving a wedge between copper price increases and comparable increases in copper theft. • Legislation to reduce copper theft has been introduced in every State and passed into law in all but five States as of August 2010. • Scrap metal dealers are cooperating with utilities and lawmakers, reporting suspected thefts, and disseminating information through ISRI’s Theft Alerts. • Local law enforcement has become more responsive to electric utilities facing copper theft and is collaborating to recover more stolen copper and arrest those responsible. Since the beginning of the 2004 spike in copper prices, copper theft and copper prices have been directly linked. Although this link continues today, the rate of thefts as a function of the upward pull of prices has been mitigated. Details: Wsahington, DC: U.S. Department of Energy, 2010. 17p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 23, 2013 at: http://www.oe.netl.doe.gov/docs/Updated%20Assessment-Copper-Final-101210%20c.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.oe.netl.doe.gov/docs/Updated%20Assessment-Copper-Final-101210%20c.pdf Shelf Number: 127367 Keywords: Copper TheftMetal TheftTheft Offenses(U.S.) |
Author: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, Infrastructure Security and Energy Restoration Title: An Assessment of Copper Wire Thefts from Electric Utilities Summary: Fueled by economic growth, worldwide demand for copper has risen over the past several years. Supply has been unable to keep pace, pushing prices dramatically upward, particularly from 2003 through 2006 when the price per pound of copper rose from around $0.70 to as high as $4.00 by mid-2006. The price then steadily declined until stabilizing at about $2.60 per pound in early 2007. Copper appears to be on the way up again in March 2007, exceeding $3.00 per pound by the middle of the month. Prices continued to climb in April 2007, averaging $3.50 per pound. Tight supplies have lead to an increase in copper recycling, which, in turn, has created a market for used copper and made the material a more attractive target for theft. In fact, thefts of copper wire have been on the rise across the United States, with no apparent geographic pattern and all sectors that use the material, including electric utilities, are being targeted. Thefts of copper wire from utilities occur primarily at substation transformers, from utility poles, or from the back of service trucks. The thefts have several adverse consequences, including the obvious economic impact, service disruptions, and possibly personal injury or death for persons involved in the theft or subsequent recovery efforts. Utilities across the Nation are paying increasing attention to this growing problem and have begun to investigate and implement measures for deterring thefts, protecting facilities, and quickly recovering from any consequences. There are a wide variety of countermeasures that can be taken by electric utilities, working closely with scrap metal dealers and law enforcement officials. Countermeasures include communication and coordination with law enforcement and between utilities; fencing, signs, warnings, lighting, patrolling, and intrusion detection for deterrence; wire and equipment protection to make thefts more difficult; alternate equipment and wire devaluation to make the material less attractive; and rewards, watch programs, and resale waiting periods to make the sale of potentially stolen copper easier to detect. In addition, scrap metal dealers have instituted a Scrap Theft Alert System and state legislators are actively drafting legislation addressing copper wire theft. During the first three months of 2007, 21 states have proposed bills raising the fines and penalties for stealing or dealing stolen copper as well as tightening the record-keeping and licensing requirements for scrap metal dealers. Reducing and ultimately eliminating copper wire theft requires a collaborative effort by electric utilities, scrap metal dealers, law enforcement officials, and state regulators and legislators. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, Infrastructure Security and Energy Restoration, 2007.25p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 24, 2013 at: http://www.oe.netl.doe.gov/docs/copper042707.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://www.oe.netl.doe.gov/docs/copper042707.pdf Shelf Number: 127393 Keywords: Copper TheftMetal TheftTheft Offenses(U.S.) |