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"As the price of copper and other scrap metals continues to skyrocket, metal thieves are finding new ways to victimize Thumb-area farmers, businesses and residents," Brown explained. "Agricultural operations and companies lose a significant amount of money when these criminals rip out their irrigation systems or other metal equipment."

He added, "Thieves are even violating our cemeteries to steal metal placards and flower vases from gravesites."

Brown's plan will:

* Require that payment for scrap metal no longer be made by cash, but rather by check or electronic means.

* Require second hand or junk dealers to keep a copy of a seller's driver's license or state ID card.

* Broaden the industries protected by scrap metal regulations by basing penalties on repeat violations, rather than the source of the metal, so that everything from agricultural machinery to irrigation systems to broadcasting equipment would be covered under the new plan.

* Increase penalties for secondhand dealers and junk dealers who knowingly buy or sell stolen metals. Those dealers will be guilty of a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine for the first offense and five years in prison and a $10,000 fine for subsequent offenses. That money would go to support local libraries.

"Metal thieves are tough to catch in action because they usually operate at night and often in remote areas. The key is to shut down their ability to turn stolen metal into quick cash and make them easier to identify," Brown said.

He explained, "The vast majority of dealers want nothing to do with buying stolen metal and this plan will help keep them from being put at a disadvantage by those who buy such metal at cheaper prices. This plan will protect our agricultural industry and give our law enforcement officials the tools they need to identify these thieves and stop this growing problem."