For More Information Contact:
Lance Robertson, 984-4716, EWEB
Jan Bohman, 682-5414, City of Eugene

December 11, 2008

Metal theft forum to focus on legislative solutions

State Rep. Nancy Nathanson, Sen. Floyd Prozanski, and officials from local governments, public utilities, schools and law-enforcement agencies will gather on Monday night (Dec. 15) for a Metals Theft Town Hall that will focus on workable, affordable solutions to the problem.

The 7 p.m. forum will be held in the Eugene City Council Chambers, 777 Pearl St. The City of Eugene, the Eugene Water & Electric Board, Rep. Nathanson and Sen. Prozanski are sponsoring and organizing the event.

Metal theft has risen to epidemic proportions in Oregon and across the nation. Public works of art, electrical wire, street lighting, highway guardrails, vehicle catalytic converters, football stadium bleachers, street signs, and even cemetery urns and flower holders are being brazenly stolen. Public safety and the integrity of critical facilities, such as electrical substations and traffic signals, can be compromised by this crime.

Sen. Prozanski and Rep. Nathanson have been working with local governments to help craft proposed 2009 legislation to address the metals theft problem. At Monday’s forum, they and other officials will discuss the problem and offer legislative solutions.

“We need to toughen the penalties and dry up the market to make it harder to sell stolen metal,” said Rep. Nathanson. “This type of theft has gone well beyond just an inconvenience; it’s costly, it’s dangerous, and it threatens public safety.”

“Metal theft has reached a crisis point throughout the state,” added Sen. Prozanski. “Besides its financial impact, metal theft creates public safety issues. It is time to form public-private partnerships to fight this crime and protect innocent citizens.”