PORTLAND, Ore. -- Firefighters will have a harder time fighting fires at some business buildings after metal thieves stole about 30 of the fittings that are needed to connect to built-in fire protection systems.

Kim Kosmas of Portland Fire and Rescue said the thefts have mostly been in commercial areas of North Portland.

She said the thieves may be responding to the rising value of brass and other recycled metal.

In Oregon, thieves have been stealing copper wire, scrap metal and even solar panels and art objects for sale to metal recyclers. Law enforcement officers often blame drug addicts, and especially methamphetamine users.

Police had previously said that Oregon needs to pass laws similar to Washington’s regarding the sale of scrap metal to discourage the thieves.

In Washington, if you sell metal to a scrap yard there’s a 10-day waiting period before a check is mailed to you. In Oregon, scrap yards can pay recyclers in cash as soon as they bring metal in.