Gwinnett lawmaker to propose metal theft legislation

This week state lawmakers will propose legislation to crack down on metal recyclers that deal in stolen metal. Local police say without these changes, their hands are tied.

"They have skirted the law, they have not come to the table, they have acted in good faith," State Sen. Renee Unterman, R-Buford, told Channel 2's Kerry Kavanaugh.

Unterman said that's why she and her cosponsors are drafting new legislation to crack down on metal thieves by requiring more from the recyclers.

"They're bringing in air-conditioner coils or catalytic converters. They know they're not just out there finding these things, that these are stolen properties," Unterman said.

Unterman said her bill require recyclers to fingerprint anyone selling metal. Those selling metal would need recycling permits through the sheriff's office.

The bill will toughen penalties and increase fines. Recyclers would risk losing their license for dealing in stolen metal.

"Any change that could be made every benefit that we can get we would like to have," Cpl. Jake Smith with the Gwinnett County Police Department said.

Smith said Gwinnett police have worked side by side with Unterman to draft the new legislation. The department said they are so bogged down by these cases, they have now created a dedicated unit.

In the past few months, Channel 2 Action News has highlighted some of the department's success stories.

Tristar recycling of Norcross immediately called police when men showed up with more than 100 bronze cemetery vases. They also helped police catch two men stealing metal beams from an Aubu construction company.

But police said the cooperation is not across the board. The county wanted to make some changes, but in the case of metal recyclers, a caveat on the law says changes can only come from the state level.

"The people that are purchasing it, they know that it is stolen property and they could be tuing it over if they wanted to, and they're not," Unterman said.

The lawmakers will officially file their legislation on Thursday.