Ordinance Aims at Copper Thieves

By Steve Bell

Kansas City, MO – After a few last-minute tweaks, the council passed an ordinance Thursday requiring metal recyclers to register with the city and keep records on who sells them metal other than scrap iron or aluminum cans.

Mayor Funkhouser says the city law was needed because citizens and businesses were getting ripped off by metal thieves. He said as recently as Wednesday he heard from a woman who said thieves destroyed the air conditioner and tore up walls of a home she was renovating to steal copper wire and tubing.

The new law requires government-issued photo ID for the seller. The recycler must keep records of the seller and seller's vehicle on file for two years.