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  Hey! Check out this news page: https://www.thebackgroundinvestigator.com/Articles/US-Senate-Moving-to-Make-Copper-Theft-a-Federal-Crime/1261/index.php.

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National News

U.S. Senate Moving to Make Copper Theft a Federal Crime

June 25, 2013 posted by Steve Brownstein

The Senate Judiciary Committee is ready to take action on a bill that would make metal theft a federal crime that carries a 10-year prison sentence for anyone convicted of stealing metal from highway equipment, telephone or cell towers, and other critical infrastructure.

Fencing stolen metal will also be made more difficult under the bill, as it will require more record-keeping for recycling agents, and will prohibit them from paying cash for purchases larger than $100.

According to the National Crime Insurance Bureau, there that it has been a 36 percent increase in the number of cases of metal theft between 2010 and 2012.

The Insurance Journal reported that copper is the biggest draw for metal thieves, as it is at record prices, and accounts for 96 percent of filed claims.

Metal theft costs U.S. businesses around $1 billion a year, according to the Insurance Journal.