NPA Drafting Bill as Metal Thefts Surge Alongside Price of Copper

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): As thefts of copper cables and other materials from solar power facilities climb due to rising copper prices, the National Police Agency is calling for new laws to prevent the sale of stolen goods.

An expert panel of the NPA released a report on Jan. 9, which includes requiring scrap metal dealers to verify the identity of sellers.

The NPA plans to draft a new bill based on the report and aims to submit it to the Diet as early as possible.

Metal thefts have surged in recent years, largely driven by soaring copper prices. Stolen metals are often brought to scrap dealers for sale, according to the NPA.

Since September last year, the NPA has convened a panel of experts and industry representatives to compile the report.

The report notes that, except for 17 prefectures with ordinances regulating scrap dealers, most areas have no regulations on the sale of scrap metal, making it easy to sell stolen materials.

It recommends requiring scrap dealers to verify sellers’ identities with photo identification, keep transaction records and report suspected stolen goods to police. In the third instance, individuals bringing in large quantities of metal are one example of a red flag.

LICENSES FOR SCRAP DEALERS

Currently, there are no laws regulating scrap metal dealers.

The report suggests implementing a registration system and requiring dealers to provide necessary information to the police.

The NPA estimates that there are roughly 50,000 to 100,000 scrap metal dealers nationwide.

Metal thieves often utilize bolt cutters and cable cutters, tools readily available at hardware stores.

The report proposes that possessing such tools above a certain size should be punishable, similar to existing laws that prohibit the concealed carrying of tools such as screwdrivers and crowbars used for illegal entry.

According to the NPA, metal theft cases have been rising, with around 16,000 reported in 2023. About half occurred in five prefectures in the Kanto region: Ibaraki, Chiba, Tochigi, Gunma and Saitama.

The total number of cases for 2024 is expected to exceed 20,000.

Financial losses from metal theft in 2023 totaled around 13.3 billion yen ($84 million), accounting for roughly 20 percent of all theft-related damages. Of this, about 9.8 billion yen was attributed to stolen copper.

"The presence of some unscrupulous scrap dealers is driving metal thefts," NPA Commissioner General Yasuhiro Tsuyuki said at a news conference on Jan. 9. "We will swiftly proceed with the work to submit the bill." 

STRIPPED AC SYSTEMS

The theft of cooper cables and other materials is not limited to solar power plants but also targets various other facilities.

“It is having a significant impact on everyday life,” a senior police officer warned.

The rise in metal theft is driven by persistently high scrap metal prices.

Copper, in particular, is reportedly traded at higher prices than other scrap metals because of its essential role in renewable energy generation and electric vehicles.

More than half of all metal theft cases involve cables, with copper accounting for more than 50 percent of the stolen materials by type.

Solar power facilities targeted by thieves often face months-long disruptions in power generation, causing significant financial losses and operational setbacks.

At a poultry farm in Gunma Prefecture, stolen copper cables caused the air conditioning to fail, resulting in the death of its chickens.

A junior high school in Saitama faced similar issues when broken air conditioning made it impossible to prepare school lunches, leading to shortened classes.

Other reported incidents include the theft of a ski lift control cable, a park toilet and a bridge nameplate.

The NPA reported apprehending 61 people for stealing metal from solar power facilities in 2023 and 146 people (a provisional figure) from January to November 2024.

Of the estimated 146 people apprehended in 2024, 74 were Cambodian, followed by 38 Japanese, 18 Thais and eight Vietnamese.

The NPA observed that undocumented foreign nationals often team with others from their home countries to repeatedly commit these crimes.

Courtesy: www.asahi.com