SA government unveils crackdown on costly, dangerous copper theft

Copper thieves have been put on notice by the South Australian government, which today announced a crackdown on their costly and often dangerous crimes. 

The proposed legislation targets scrap metal dealers, requiring them to be licensed and banning cash transactions.

The announcement follows increasing concerns about the impact of copper theft on construction sites, with the cost to the industry estimated at $70 million a year.

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"The value of the copper that might be stolen is insignificant in terms of the actual cost of the damage that is done by the person who comes and tries to tear things apart – we are talking about hot water services, copper piping," Police Minister Blair Boyer said.

Under the new regulations, scrap metal dealers will also be required to maintain detailed records of their transactions. 

"You know where you are buying the scrap metal, what it is, and who you are buying it for, so we are tackling both sides of it," Boyer said.

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Beyond the financial cost, industry leaders have raised serious safety concerns related to copper theft. 

"It's having an impact on safety, all too often copper is stolen from a site, it's leaving live wires around that kids coming past can be hurt by," said Liam Golding of the Urban Development Institute of Australia said.

The legislation is set to be introduced to parliament tomorrow.

This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.