A new and tougher law combating metal theft in neighboring South Carolina could have an impact on border communities in east Georgia. (photo-Rusty Tanton)
Metal theft, especially of copper, is a growing and expensive problem in Georgia, South Carolina and states nationwide.
South Carolina’s new law imposes harsher penalties on thieves, and adds regulations to make criminals easier to trace, like requiring permits to sell metals.
Here in Georgia, just over the state line in Richmond County, sheriff’s captain Scott Peebles says Georgia’s border communities could see more metal theft activity.
“We will see probably more people bringing metals to be scrapped, but I don’t think it’s going to change or have much of an impact on the border counties for South Carolina in as far as their crime is concerned.”
Georgia combats metal theft by requiring scrap metal buyers to get photocopies of sellers’ driver’s licenses.
