Estonia, Legislation, Markets and Companies, Metals Market

International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics Thursday, 28.03.2024, 13:42

Estonian companies in cooperation with Board Guard fight against metal thefts

Juhan Tere, BC, Tallinn, 16.10.2012.Print version
15 Estonian companies and organizations signed a goodwill agreement with the Police and Border Guard Board of Estonia aimed at defining common principles to stop metal thefts, Estonia-based telecommunications company EMT said in a statement.

Goodwill agreement to stop metal thefts was initiated by the Police and Border Guard Board, the transmission system operator Elektrilevi and the scrap metal recycling services company Kuusakoski, and joined by Imatra Elekter, Elion Ettevõtted, Starman, EMT, Elisa Estonia, Tele2 Estonia, Tallinna Vesi, Eesti Raudtee, BLRT Refonda, Tolmet Estonia and Estonian Water Works Association. Additionally, VKG Elektrivorgud and Elering have announced that they will also enter into the voluntary agreement. The agreement remains open for everyone to join, writes LETA.

 

The companies who signed the agreement stated that metal theft is still a problem throughout Estonia, as it results in large damages and can even endanger lives. Additionally, metal thefts often affects thousands of people, as important services get disrupted by this crime. To battle metal thefts, the parties defined common principles, agreed on establishing closer collaboration, and set the course of action.

 

Police and Border Guard Board Director General Raivo Kuut acknowledged companies and organizations who act on preventing and battling metal thefts.

 

„Such initiative shows responsibility and helps fighting metal thefts. At the same time, stopping this type of crime requires help from all members of society,” Kuut said. „We would like to encourage everyone to notify police about any suspicious activity, e.g. unmarked vehicles and people working on electrical cabinets, substations, manhole covers, mobile towers and railroad.”

 

The parties agreed upon concrete steps to prevent metal thefts. Infrastructure companies took on the objective of informing the police and large scrap metal recycling services companies about metal thefts as quickly as possible to prevent processing of stolen goods. Additionally, a plan was set to train scrapyard employees on the issue.

 

Metal recyclers committed to identifying sellers based on an official identity document and installing security cameras at scrapyards. Police is to be notified immediately by calling 110 if items prohibited by the Waste Act are brought to the scrapyard. With this agreement, metal recycling companies confirmed that car wrecks and other items that must be registered are to be received only from legal owners or upon presenting a power of attorney. Presenting item’s registration certificate was also made mandatory.

 

The Waste Act prohibits buying of metal objects of obvious artistic or historical value. Electrical cords, communication cables, traffic signs, road signs, metal manhole covers and railroad rails may be bought only from companies holding legal market licenses or undertakings holding waste permits.

 

Buying of metal waste is recorded with the following data (signed by both the buyer and seller): name of the seller; seller’s registration or personal identification code; place of residence; description, type, quantity and cost of the waste; vehicle’s registration number. Payment for the waste can be done only by bank transfer, selling metal waste for cash is prohibited.






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