JAMESTOWN – New York’s Senior U.S. Senator wants to crack down on people who steal scrap metal in Western New York and the rest of the United States – and he made his announcement here in Jamestown. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) was in town yesterday announcing a new federal bill aimed at those who steal scrap metal to make a profit. The bill would require metal sellers to provide proof of ownership, limit cash payments from recyclers for scrap metal to $100 and make it a federal offense to steel metal from critical infrastructure.
Senator Schumer said his proposed bill – which he is co-sponsoring with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) – is in response to recent thefts from area homes, train stations and even churches. According to chumer, due to the high price of iron, copper, and other metal in the market, Chautauqua County has recently seen a significant number of scrap metal burglaries and larcenies in the area, with thieves selling their loot to scrap metal yards.
Recent criminal activity includes the theft of copper downspouts at the Erie-Lackawanna Train Depot, metal used at Jamestown Iron Works, copper wire from AlTech Wire Mill in Dunkirk, and a four-foot cross from the First Presbyterian Church in Jamestown. Additionally, vacant homes throughout Jamestown and all of Chautauqua County are being stripped for metal, making it more expensive and difficult to bring those houses up to code and get them occupied.
Joining Schumer in his announcement yesterday were various city and county officials, including Sheriff Joe Gerace and Jamestown Police Chief Harry Snellings.
Leave a Reply