Ohio Tops Other States in Metal Theft Claims

A new report says Ohio leads the states in the number of property insurance claims made for the theft of metals such as copper pipes and wiring.

The Dayton Daily News reports the National Insurance Crime Bureau says Ohio property owners made about 2,400 claims linked to such thefts between 2009 and 2011.

Nationwide, claims broke the 25,000 mark over the same period, an 81 percent jump from numbers recorded from 2006 to 2008.

Thefts are spurred by high prices for copper and other metals in a struggling economy. Thieves cause millions of dollars in losses by ripping away air conditioners, plumbing and cables.

The Ohio Senate recently passed a bill aiming to curb such thefts. In Cincinnati, an ordinance restricting scrap metal sellers is being challenged in court.