TUCSON - Metal thefts in Tucson are down from their peak in 2012, thanks to cooperation between law enforcement, businesses and metal recyclers. At the peak, a coalition of business groups, including the Metropolitan Pima Alliance, the Southern Arizona Chapter of CCIM and Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Greater Tucson, formed the Pima County Metal Theft Task Force to work with the Tucson Police Department (TPD) to combat metal thefts.
Jason Wong, CCIM, with Tucson-based, RedPoint Development initiated the task force and CCIM Southern Arizona Chapter was awarded the Community Engagement Award earlier this year for its efforts.
The Taskforce raised money, launched a public relations campaign and worked with state lawmakers to pass legislation dedicated to deterring metal theft. The business community, residents, local and State governments, local law enforcement and the metal recyclers all worked together to reduce the high frequency of metal theft. Due to these community efforts, reports of metal theft have drastically decreased since 2012.
The Pima County Metal Theft Taskforce was recognized at a press conference this week by City of Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild and the Tucson Police Department for its efforts to decrease metal theft and raise funds for the Tucson Police Foundation. The Taskforce donated $6,000 to the Tucson Police Foundation for the purchase of additional surveillance equipment to be used for the continuing efforts to fight this billion dollar crime.
“The city was experiencing metal theft at unprecedented levels,” said Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild. “Due to the business community coming together with our police department, we are now below levels we were at in 2010.” Three years ago, as copper prices soared and the recession lingered, Tucsonans reported a property loss of $2.9 million, a substantial increase over the 2010 property loss of $652,000. Last year, the property loss from metal thefts was $310,000.
To learn more about the Pima County Metal Task Force visit https://mpaaz.org/advocacy/metal-theft-task-force