Firearms Industry to Offer Reward in Jasper, GA Firearms Theft

PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As part of a new national initiative to help curb the criminal acquisition and misuse of firearms, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) -- the trade association for the firearms industry -- has announced that it will match any rewards issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in the November 8, 2008, theft of 40 firearms from the Bargain Barn, located at 3622 Camp Road in Jasper, Georgia.

The matching reward payment by the NSSF will be granted only following payment of the initial ATF reward, which is up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of those responsible for the crime.

"Our reward offer will assist ATF and local law enforcement in solving these 'smash and grab' burglaries against firearms retailers and lead to the recovery of stolen firearms before they can enter the illegal underground black market," said NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane.

Anyone with information regarding the theft of firearms at Bargain Barn in Jasper, Ga., should contact the ATF toll-free hotline at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477).

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EMCs Mark One Year of Tougher Copper Theft Law

On July 1, the electric membership corporations (EMCs) in Georgia observed the first anniversary of legislation to bring harsher penalties to those charged with metals theft.

"Metals theft is not a victimless crime," says Bill Verner, vice president, government relations, communications and member services with Georgia EMC. "Consumers foot the bill for replacing and repairing the damage left by a wire thief."

In 2007, the EMCs and Georgia EMC led an industry effort to craft legislation aimed at toughening the existing law. The new law, which took effect July 1, 2007, forces the defendant to make full restitution to the lawful owner of the stolen metal and allows the prosecutor to prosecute based on how much it will cost to return the affected property to its original condition and not just the salvage value of the stolen metal.

According to Verner, the legislation allows prosecutors a greater ability to seek a felony conviction (rather than a misdemeanor) and keep criminals off the streets.

With copper prices soaring to $3.90 a pound, compared to $0.77 in 2003, EMCs have seen an escalation of metal thefts in substations, from utility poles, from the back of service trucks or in warehouses.

In 2007 and 2008, electric cooperatives in Georgia alone reported more than 350 separate heists of copper theft and other wire amounting to substantial financial losses, endangerment to personnel and the public, and compromising reliability.

This nationwide epidemic is ultimately costing consumers of utilities (and home builders, apartment owners, telephone and wireless providers, and even breweries) hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in Georgia alone, while electrical injuries sustained by perpetrators are most likely borne by the taxpayer for treatment at area hospital emergency rooms and burn centers.

As a result, EMCs are investigating and implementing deterrence measures such as cameras, surveillance and locking materials in steel containers at project sites.

The EMCs, Georgia EMC and numerous other stakeholders continue to work on an educational effort to advise local prosecutors, sheriffs, chiefs of police, county commissioners, mayors and scrap metal dealers about the severe economic and safety problems associated with scrap metal theft.

Members of the public should contact the local sheriff's department if they spot someone other than an authorized utility employee or approved contractor near an existing electric substation or EMC project site.

Georgia EMC is the statewide trade association representing the state's 42 EMCs, Oglethorpe Power Corp. and Georgia Transmission Corp. Collectively, Georgia's customer-owned EMCs provide electricity and related services to four million people, nearly half of Georgia's population, across 73 percent of the state's land area.

Copper Theft Is Dangerous Activity

PRNewswire -- Rising prices for copper have led to increased thefts from utilities, construction and industrial sites, creating a serious problem throughout Georgia.

Georgia Power has been no exception. As the price of copper goes up, Georgia Power has seen a steady correlated increase in the number of thefts, attempted thefts and break-ins at substations, from the poles themselves and other property locations.

In the past two years the average price of a pound of copper has gone up almost 200 percent. But from 2005 to 2007, the number of wire theft cases the company has investigated has gone up more than 500 percent, while losses have increased more than 600 percent.

"We actively investigate all thefts or attacks on our property," says Philip Peacock, investigations supervisor for Georgia Power. "We work closely with local law enforcement to identify and prosecute anyone who does something like this. Arrests of individuals involved in these thefts from Georgia Power have increased more than 900 percent."

Not only is there a financial impact to the company, there are significant safety implications as well. When thieves target electric lines and equipment they put themselves, utility employees and, potentially, residents in danger.

Many substations receive power in at 500,000 volts and reduce it down to about 11,000 volts, which is still a lethal dose. Before any utility staff are allowed to work around this equipment they must have safety training and are required to wear personal protective equipment such as insulated shoes, hard hats, and other specific materials.

"We've had several instances where these would-be thieves have been severely injured," continued Peacock, "including critical, life-threatening electrical burns or loss of body parts. Anyone who does this is putting their life at extreme risk."

These thefts also threaten the operation of the electric grid, which can cause widespread outages and endanger employees working on lines.

The company has initiated a number of programs to tackle the problem. Security has been increased at all company locations. Peacock says, where possible, copper wire in the system is being replaced with steel-clad wire, which has little value in the scrap metal market.

In addition, the Georgia legislature passed a new law in 2007 increasing the penalties for anyone who steals or knowingly recycles stolen copper.

"The risks just aren't worth the few dollars someone might be able to get for the amount of copper available in our substations," noted Peacock. "It's just not worth their life or being permanently disabled from now on."

Governor Announces Legislation Filed to Establish Identity Theft Task Force

Governor Sonny Perdue announced today the filing of legislation to establish an identity theft task force within the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). This legislation is being carried by Senator Joseph Carter (R – Tifton).

“Today I have a message for identity thieves in Georgia: Your number is up,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “With this legislation, we are ensuring that Georgia’s identity theft laws are backed by the full force of the GBI and that identity thieves will be brought to justice.”

Governor Perdue’s legislation would establish a dedicated identity theft task force within the Investigative Division of the GBI. Governor Perdue included $1 million in his budget proposal to fund this initiative. This task force will combat identity theft on several fronts including investigating alleged identity theft, educating the public, supporting victims and training local law enforcement in combating identity theft.

"The General Assembly looks forward to supporting the GBI as they work to protect Georgia's citizens and businesses from the scourge of identity theft," said Senator Carter. "I have full confidence that the GBI will take this new duty on and produce the kind of results the people of this state deserve."

Identity theft cost Georgia’s citizens and businesses more than $25 million in 2006. From 2002 to 2006, there were more than 34,000 reports of identity theft in Georgia filed with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Georgia is ranked 7th in the nation in incidents of identity theft per capita.

The GBI has a proven track record of combating crimes that plague Georgia’s citizens. In recent past, the Governor has charged GBI with aggressively combating methamphetamines and predators who prey on Georgia’s children via the internet. Since the launch of the methamphetamine task force, total drug seizures have increased from $7.6 million in 2005 to over $32 million year to date in 2008. Governor Perdue’s child safety initiative (CSI Georgia) was launched to provide more GBI agents to investigate crimes against children committed by internet predators. The GBI’s High Technology Investigations Unit caseload increased 57 percent in 2007 compared to 2006.

Currently, the Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs is charged with investigating identity theft. This legislation would transfer that statutory authority to the GBI.