Success of ScrapTheftAlert.com showcased during
National Crime Prevention Month
(Washington, DC) – With National Crime Prevention Month concluding later this week, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) touted the spreading use of ScrapTheftAlert.com as a victory in the fight against metals theft. According to ISRI, the Voice of the Recycling Industry™, in addition to the more than 18,000 registered users, including more than 7,500 law enforcement, six states have signed laws requiring use of the alert system.
“ScrapTheftAlert.com is a proven and successful tool for law enforcement, private security, and the recycling industry as we work together to stop metals theft,” said ReMA Director of Law Enforcement Outreach Brady Mills, who just returned from demonstrating the free alert system at the International Association of Chiefs of Police annual conference. “The more law enforcement officers who register and use the system, the greater the likelihood that recyclers are able to help recover stolen materials. It sends a strong message to thieves that stolen property will be turned away by legitimate scrap yards, and thieves will be turned over to police.”
Last month, California became the sixth state to codify the use of ScrapTheftAlert.com. California AB 2312 requires all recyclers to register and receive theft alerts from ScrapTheftAlert.com starting January 1, 2015, and encourages local law enforcement to use the system to report metal thefts that occur within their jurisdiction. The law also praises ReMA for its work with law enforcement to ensure the system meets the investigative needs of law enforcement.
“We are pleased with this outcome, including the efforts of the bill's author, our members, and our advocates in securing the passage of this crucial piece of legislation,” said Edward Kangeter, CEO of CASS, Inc. and President of ISRI’s West Coast Chapter. “With the placement of ScrapTheftAlert.com into law as California's official metal theft reporting system, ReMA has significantly validated its image as an organization of industry members who are committed to solving the problem of metal theft.”
ScrapTheftAlert.com allows law enforcement (and certain corporate security personnel) to post alerts that are sent to users within a 100-mile radius of the theft location. The alerts contain a description of the stolen material, value, pictures if available, and contact information for the reporting agency. Recyclers can then be on the lookout for the materials entering their yards.
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The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI) ISRI is the Voice of the Recycling Industry™. ReMA represents more than 1,600 companies in 21 chapters nationwide that process, broker and industrially consume scrap commodities, including metals, paper, plastics, glass, rubber, electronics and textiles. With headquarters in Washington, DC, ReMA provides safety, education, advocacy, and compliance training, and promotes public awareness of the vital role recycling plays in the U.S. economy, global trade, the environment and sustainable development.