Metal Thefts Continue to Plague the Nation: NICB

In a new report released today, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) sees more evidence of pervasive metal theft—overwhelmingly copper—affecting communities across the nation. The report reviews metal theft claims from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2012.

During this period, 33,775 insurance claims for the theft of copper, bronze, brass or aluminum were handled—32,568 of them (96 percent) for copper alone. This shows a 36 percent increase in claims when compared with the 25,083 claims reported between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2011.

When the number of metal theft claims per month and monthly average copper prices are compared, the number of claims filed is found to have a statistically significant correlation with the price of copper.
So far in 2013, there have been reports of copper thefts at numerous locations coast to coast including one from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport which disabled the approach lighting for one of the runways. Meanwhile, across the nation less brazen but equally damaging thefts have continued to darken streets and disable traffic controls.

Today’s report ranks Ohio first of all the states generating 3,228 metal theft claims. It was followed by Texas (2,624), Georgia (1,953), California (1,888), and North Carolina (1,682).

The top-five Core Based Statistical Areas generating the most metal theft claims are New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ (1,275); Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL (1,154); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA (1,019); Dallas-Ft. Worth-Arlington, TX (849); and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE (786).

Depending on the circumstances of the theft, these incidents may not generate an insurance claim, or even a police report. Consequently, comprehensive empirical data is elusive. While this report deals primarily with submitted insurance claims, the ultimate impact of this activity falls, to some degree, on all consumers. Losses to businesses and government entities are shared with customers and taxpayers through higher costs for goods and services and/or reductions in services.

While metal thefts continue, there have been a number of successful legislative and regulatory efforts enacted in recent years all aimed at stemming the problem. Currently, state bills addressing metal theft are pending in Arizona, California, Michigan, Minnesota and Washington, among other states, while at the federal level, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced this past February the “Metal Theft Prevention Act of 2013.”

Source: NICB