Maldonado Battles Metal Theft

State Senator Abel Maldonado, whose district includes Santa Barbara County, introduced a bill intended to deter one of rural California’s fastest rising criminal enterprises, namely the theft of scrap metal. Actually, at the time it is stolen, the metal is in the form of tools, machinery parts, and copper wiring, but the thieves break it into pieces before selling it as scrap. Maldanado’s bill, SB447, would require metal and junk dealers to report all of their receipts, including the seller’s ID, to local Sheriff’s within 24 hours. Pawn shop owners are already required to make daily reports.