A new Ohio law takes aim at what officials say is a growing problem with the theft and sale of essential metals. The thefts have raised both cost and safety concerns for the state.

"It's a pretty significant problem," said Richard Baron, executive director of Ohio Homeland Security.

Lawmakers unanimously passed Senate Bill 193 in June, which requires scrap metal dealers to register their businesses with an online database before Jan. 1, 2013. The database will only be accessible by law enforcement to aid in investigations, not as a public record.

Dealers are no longer allowed to accept certain materials, such as burned copper wire, since thieves commonly take down telephone wires, burn the plastic shielding from around them and then sell the copper for a large profit.

The law carries penalties for thieves, and for dealers who are caught not keeping proper records. Known thieves will be placed on an electronic do-not-buy list accessible by both dealers and law enforcement.

Starting Jan. 1, 2014, the law also requires scrap metal dealers to keep records of all their transactions and send them to the Ohio director of public safety the following business day by noon. The records must include information such as a picture of the seller and the weight of the product they're selling.