SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – A new Missouri law set to take effect at the end of August will give law enforcement officers a faster path to charging suspected copper wire thieves.
Deputies describe copper wire theft as a rampant problem in rural Greene County. Catching someone in the act is difficult, and finding stolen wire has not always been enough to immediately connect a suspect to a crime.
New law creates felony charge
Senate Bill 903 creates a felony for unauthorized possession of certain copper, fiber, and telecommunications material. If someone damages critical systems and interrupts service, the offense can become a Class C felony, regardless of the stolen material’s value.
Greene County Sheriff’s Office PIO Deputy Jonah Beadles said the law simplifies what investigators can do when they find wire in someone’s possession…