In a concerted effort to reduce copper thefts from construction sites and residential and business air conditioning units, two of Nashville’s largest scrap metal dealers today agreed to adhere to a “no buy list” containing the names of more than 300 convicted thieves and burglars.
East Precinct detectives developed the “no buy list” after conducting criminal background checks on the more than 30,000 persons who have sold scrap metal to PSC Metals and Metal Management Nashville. The companies, which have been cooperating with the police department for the past several months to reduce copper and metal theft, voluntarily provided the names of their customers.
About 1% of the total customer base was placed on the “no buy list” due to past criminal conduct.
“The strong partnership between East Commander Bob Nash, Detective Lieutenant Danny Driskell, and the managers of PSC Metals and Metal Management should send a strong deterrent message to thieves that it will become increasingly difficult to fence stolen copper,” Chief Ronal Serpas said.
“Even with this agreement, it is still vitally important that the Tennessee House of Representatives pass the Scrap Metal Bill already approved this year by the senate,” Serpas said.
The provisions of the pending legislation include:
The Public Safety Coalition, made up of Tennessee’s police chiefs, sheriffs,and district attorneys general, has made passage of the Scrap Metal Bill one of the priorities this legislative session. A uniform state law will help prevent thieves from traveling to other counties to fence stolen copper and other scrap metal.
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