SINGAPORE: To tackle the rising spate of metal being stolen to be sold off as scrap, a new law to regulate secondhand goods dealers will come into effect on Dec 1.
Under the Secondhand Goods Dealers Act, dealers who trade in copper wires and cables as well as other items containing copper, steel or aluminium that are used as fittings and installations will be regulated.
These include, among others, commonly stolen items such as manhole covers, railings, lightning conductors, fencings and signposts, whose thefts pose a danger to public safety.
Other goods that come under regulation include video and audio equipment, computers, jewellery, watches and pawn tickets.
For a detailed list of items that fall under regulation, refer to the schedule on the Singapore Police Force's website at
www.spf.gov.sg.
The police said the list was drawn up based on crime data of commonly stolen items, adding that the new regulatory regime sought to prevent fencing, or the trading of stolen goods.
The law applies whether the transactions take place at a shop front, via a makeshift stall or over the Internet.
There were 1,014 reported cases of metal-related theft in the first nine months of this year, a 25-per-cent jump from the corresponding period last year, as prices of metals soared worldwide.
Under the new Act, dealers will be required to make payment to sellers of scrap metal via crossed cheques for all transactions involving metals listed in the schedule.
This is to deter thieves from disposing of stolen metal items with scrap dealers as they may be more easily traced via their bank accounts.
The penalties in the new Act have also been enhanced to reflect the severity of theft offences. Those found guilty could be fined up to $20,000 and/or jailed up to a year. - TODAY/so
