Alfa Insurance is offering an additional $10,000 reward for information leading to a conviction for the theft of copper and other metal from poultry houses, farm irrigation systems and other property in Alabama covered by an Alfa Insurance policy.

Alabama Farmers Federation members already benefit from a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction for theft from their property.



"The theft of copper wiring and other valuable metal is growing, especially in our rural communities,” said Alfa Insurance and Alabama Farmers Federation President Jerry Newby. “Criminals who commit these acts cost our policyholders money, and they often do thousands of dollars in damage to property and cripple the equipment and buildings farmers depend on for their livelihoods.”



The $10,000 reward will be paid to the first person who furnishes information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person or persons for the theft of copper or other metal taken from property in Alabama covered by an Alfa Insurance policy.



Alfa Insurance is the leading insurer of farms in the state.

In recent years, dozens of farmers and other rural residents have reported property damage related to copper theft.

Anyone with information related to the theft of copper is encouraged to contact local law enforcement officials.



In the last few years, Alabama has strengthened penalties for metal theft. The Federation is currently supporting a bill in the Alabama Legislature that would further deter metal theft by requiring buyers of scrap metal to collect additional information about the seller.



Alabama Farmers Federation, a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation, is the state's largest farm organization with more than 400,000 members.

Alfa and its affiliates provide insurance and other financial services to more than 1 million customers in 11 states.

(Metal theft is also a big problem in Georgia and is being called a crisis. For that story, see http://southeastfarmpress.com/equipment/georgia-growers-face-crisis-metal-theft.