Here's What's Hot On CBS11TV.COM:
Jun 26, 2008 10:07 pm US/Central
Dallas Passes Tougher Restrictions On Copper Sales
Reporting
Jack Fink
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
From businesses, to schools, even churches, no place is too sacred for copper thieves. In the City of Dallas alone, thefts rose by 227 percent from 2005 to 2007.
In an effort to prevent thieves from getting quick cash, the Dallas City Council approved tougher restrictions for selling copper Thursday.
Dallas police already inspect scrap yards at least twice a week for stolen metals. But in the next 60 days, people who want to sell metal will have to apply for a transaction card in order to get cash.
For the first time, the scrap yard owners will send the sellers a check and the transaction card to an address the sellers provided when they registered for the card. From then on, the seller will have to show the card to get paid.
Police say the new card will help them track down thieves because they'll have the seller's information.
The city council is also requiring sellers to leave their thumb print and for scrap yards to take digital photos of the seller, their vehicle and the metals they sold.
They'll also need a copy of their identification.
Last year, the state legislature made it a state jail felony to sell stolen metals. Anyone convicted of the crime faces up to two years in jail.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Hollywood Hair
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
