Municipal officials are trying to crack down on copper and scrap metal theft with recent changes to Chatham-Kent’s Business Licensing By-law.
At their June 22 meeting, members of council approved the updated by-law, with the most significant changes focused on salvage yards and scrap metal dealers.
Under the new rules, police record checks for salvage yard applicants and employees will only be required during the initial licensing process unless otherwise requested. In addition, businesses will require approval from the Chatham-Kent Police Service (CKPS) before accepting prohibited items such as manhole covers, guard rails, street signs, shopping carts and storm grates.
The by-law also requires restricted scrap metal to be purchased using traceable forms of payment, such as cheques or e-transfers, and requires CKPS approval before accepting salvage materials with altered serial numbers.
In a report to council, municipal staff said traceable currency provides an additional layer of security and accountability. Staff noted that cash transactions do not create an audit trail, identification can be falsified or inaccurate, and traceable payments create a verifiable financial record linked to an account holder.
The changes are intended to assist law enforcement investigations and reduce opportunities for criminals to profit from stolen infrastructure and scrap metal.
