Japanese police eye mandatory ID checks for scrap metal trading to stop surge in thefts

Japanese police have proposed the introduction of mandatory identification checks for anyone buying or selling scrap metal in an effort to halt a surge in thefts of the valuable materials from businesses and construction sites across the country.

The number of reported incidents has soared in recent years, most notably after trade restrictions were imposed on Russia in the aftermath of its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, disrupting imports and raising prices.

The National Police Agency issued a report on the problem on Thursday, proposing the introduction of a nationwide registration scheme for anyone dealing in scrap metal. It also suggested the creation of a national register of approved scrap companies and their owners. A bill is being finalised and will be submitted to the Diet later this year, national broadcaster NHK reported.

Authorities recorded 5,478 thefts of metal equipment in 2020, but that jumped to 10,368 cases in 2022 and 16,276 incidents in 2023. Police have not released statistics for 2024, but they anticipate the total number of cases will surpass the 20,000 threshold.

The price of scrap iron was about 10,000 yen (US$63) a ton before 2000, but had spiked to 47,000 yen a ton in May 2023, according to the Japan Iron and Steel Recycling Institute. The prices of scrap copper and aluminium have similarly risen, with copper in particular demand in the renewable energy sector and for electric vehicles.

Police put the cost of replacing the stolen equipment at 13.2 billion yen a year.