Law Enforcement Shifts to Buyers In Metal Thefts

Sims Metal Management, with locations throughout much of the U.S., will pay $4.1 million to settle a lawsuit after San Francisco and Contra Costa County accused the company of purchasing stolen metal after employees accepted copper wiring that was clearly stolen. The company did not admit wrongdoing and the judge also ordered Sims to photograph metal sellers, take their fingerprints and demand identification.

The lawsuit was the result of a change in strategy by prosecutors, says Mark Peterson, Contra Costa County district attorney. For a long time, we had gone after the metal thieves, he said at a press conference. What we realized is that if we wanted to make a dent, we needed to go after the metal recycling companies purchasing the stolen goods.