A bill that makes theft of commodity metals from utilities such as La Plata Electric Association and transportation companies is awaiting the signature of Gov. John Hickenlooper.<\/p>\n
Among popular commodity metals that can be resold are copper and aluminum.<\/p>\n
The Senate bill, Endangering Utility Transmission, makes tampering with electrical facilities, railroads, water lines or fuel pipelines a felony punishable by up to eight years in prison.<\/p>\n
LPEA lost two rolls of copper ground wire, a total of 600 feet, when thieves broke into a storage yard in Ignacio a year to 18 months ago, said Steve Gregg, the LPEA manager of operations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe rolls were worth about $100 each,\u201d Gregg said. \u201c I imagine the thieves could get about half that amount by selling it.\u201d<\/p>\n
A more serious problem, he said, is that when protective structures such as fences or buildings are breached, high-voltage transmission equipment can be left exposed to the public.<\/p>\n
The two LPEA rolls of copper wire, stored on the backs of trucks, were easy pickings, Gregg said. Since then, motion-sensor lights and a security camera have been installed at the Ignacio maintenance yard, he said.<\/p>\n
The Senate bill, SB-049, came about from concern about the rising number of commodity metal thefts. The Commodity Metals Theft Task Force was formed in response.<\/p>\n