FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — Fresno County leaders gathered to propose a new ordinance to curb the theft of copper wire.
It came after years of frustration, destruction, exasperation, and financial losses as thieves, like rats, burrow into the wiring that cuts business, government, schools, medical, agricultural, phone, and internet services.
A year and a half ago, supervisors Bredefeld and Magsig got a group of leaders together to create a new ordinance and make sure it passed legal and state muster.
Bredefeld said, “Metal theft inflicted over $3 million in damage to commercial operations in Fresno County.”
The ordinance is supported by State Attorney General Rob Bonta.
Bredefeld explained that one issue is that it is difficult to prove where the stolen copper wire comes from.
The ordinance was created in a way to try to avoid that problem.
The ordinance prohibits a person from receiving, possessing or transporting scrap commercial-grade copper or aluminum wire cable of ten pounds or more.
Bredefeld said,”It also prohibits a person from receiving, possessing, or transporting scrap commercial-grade copper or aluminum wire or cable that’s had its sheathing stripped, burned off, or otherwise removed.”
Sheriff Zanoni said, “Just in the last couple of weeks, the actual theft and damage caused by people stealing copper wire has been over $500,000. Here in Fresno County alone.”
So now, anyone caught doing this will be charged with a misdemeanor, sent to the county jail, and fined over a thousand dollars.
The co-authors of this ordinance, Supervisors Bredefeld and Magsig, hope this will deter people from committing this crime.
They are also quite clear in reassuring legitimate contractors and recyclers that this will not affect them.
As long as they are using copper wire for its intended purpose.