Council Approves Revisions to Scrap Metal Theft Bylaw

The major amendment to the bylaw now makes it necessary for salvage yards to register, photograph and keep untouched for at least three days, all items accepted by them, before they could be sold.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Chatham-Kent municipality will have an updated bylaw in force to prevent scrap metal thefts. The Councillors, in a unanimous vote during Council meeting Monday night, approved certain amendments to the bylaw in order to ensure stricter enforcement action against theft incidents. The amendments are in light of report presented before the Council which states that theft of copper and other metals has been causing significant safety risks and costs.

The major amendment to the bylaw now makes it necessary for salvage yards to register, photograph and keep untouched for at least three days, all items accepted by them, before they could be sold. This will enable police and enforcement agencies to cross check the items for stolen materials. The amendment will make the sale of stolen items tougher.

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Also, persons dealing with scrap metal transactions with salvage yards must be at least 18 years old and must provide government photo identification. The photographs of the scrap metal items involved in all transactions must be maintained for a period of one year.

In another major amendment, the text of the bylaw has been changed to include utility cable under the definition of metal scrap or wiring salvage materials.

Further, the bylaw stipulates that salvage yards must immediately report to police, about any items that are believed to be stolen. It recommends installation of surveillance cameras by salvage yards to keep proper track on individuals selling scrap to them. Also, it recommends carrying out police clearance check, at the time of issue of license to salvage yards.

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