PRATTVILLE, Ala. (AP) -- Alabama law enforcement officials are hoping a new law that goes into effect Wednesday will help curb metal thefts across the state.

The Montgomery Advertiser reports (http://on.mgmadv.com/Q4e8Dj) that the new law governs the sale of recycled metals in the state. It requires buyers and scrapyards to get more information from sellers.

Authorities say rising scrap metal prices in recent years has led to the increase in metal thefts, especially copper.

The new law requires businesses buying scrap to make a copy of a photo ID of the seller, get a vehicle description including license plate number and put the information into a statewide database.

The law also makes selling stolen metal valued at more than $250 a Class C felony, with a punishment of up to 10 years in prison.