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It's been only a couple of months since a state law went into effect to make it harder for copper thieves to profit from selling their booty, but the law seems to be having some deterrent effect, local government and industry officials say.

Thieves — believed to be mainly drug users looking for a quick buck — have been pulling copper from electrical boxes and streetlights to sell to scrap dealers for cash. Copper prices have skyrocketed in recent years, causing recycling centers to pay more for scrap metal.

Scrap copper is fetching about $2 a pound at local recyclers, depending on the type of scrap and grade of copper.

A law that took effect in September requires sellers to show identification to recyclers when selling more than $25 worth of metal. The law requires recyclers to mail a check, instead of paying on the spot, with the idea of slowing payment and making it easier to investigate thieves.

"We are noticing that our (streetlight) pull boxes are not being broken into as often" since the law went into effect, said Michael Graham, Tucson Transportation Department spokesman.

In the past 2 1/2 years, about 40 miles of copper wire has been stolen from streetlights throughout the city, costing taxpayers about $250,000 to replace it, Graham said.

Some areas — such as around Old Vail Connection and Houghton roads, and the intersection of Alvernon Way, Barraza-Aviation Parkway and Golf Links Road — will remain dark until the Transportation Department can figure out how to secure them, Graham said.

Wire has been stolen and replaced three times in the Old Vail-Houghton area, he said.

But while the Transportation Department had four reports of stolen wire during September, there were no reports in October and just one so far this month, Graham said.

"It's been significantly decreased," he said.

Tucson Iron & Metal, a recycler at 690 E. 36th St., has spent about $24,000 on security equipment to scan fingerprints, signatures and license plates, and send them to the state Department of Public Safety every evening, said John Fernley, operations manager.

"The law seems to be effective," he said. "The people coming in now are more your mom and pops that want to recycle."

An official with Tucson Electric Power Co., the area's biggest electric utility and a big user of copper, said it was too soon to tell how effective the law will be.

"It's only been a few months, and we have yet to compile any meaningful statistics as to the effectiveness of the law," spokesman Joe Salkowski said.

Meanwhile, some major thefts still are occurring. Since the law took effect, more than a mile of copper wire was reported stolen in Mesa and another mile of wire was taken in Chandler, the East Valley Tribune reported.