| Copper Thieves Beware!
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| The nation has seen a marked increase
in theft of copper. Like elsewhere, thieves in East Texas have been stealing
wire from power lines and substations, which degrades the reliability of
the infrastructure. These criminals leave behind dangerous conditions for
electrical power workers and the public. Repairs are costly and are paid
for by all electricity consumers. |
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Because of this, the Texas Legislature has passed three new bills to address growing concerns. Now, sales of regulated metals will be recorded and tracked, making it easier to prosecute illegal transactions. Additionally, new amendments to the penal code allow for felony charges for this type of crime. The East Texas Copper Theft Task Force is aggressively working toward reducing copper theft while ensuring full prosecution of any participants. We are calling on the public to help us put an end to this costly and dangerous crime because each attempt to steal copper creates the potential for serious injury or death, not only for the thief, but for the general public and our workers. Your vigilance is one of the most important components in reducing occurrences of copper theft. If you observe suspicious activity around substations or power lines, or see missing sections of power lines or dangling power lines, call your local electric utility and your local Crime Stoppers. |
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