Alleged local thief caught copper-handed | News

SACRAMENTO, CA - Sacramento police arrested a local man who allegedly attempted to join the growing trend of copper theft last Sunday. 

According to police, a citizen who witnessed suspicious activity called in to report a man stealing copper wire from a city light pole pull-box. 

Police arrived on the scene at Triangle Park, near El Camino and Del Paso Blvd., and found 29-year-old Patrick Hayes. 

Officers began an investigation of the area and found a significant amount of wire was stripped out of the pull-box running between two city light poles. They also recovered a duffle bag full of the stolen wire and burglary tools.

Hayes was arrested for vandalism, destruction of electrical lines and for possession of burglary tools and stolen property.

The citizen who called in the report had seen local media coverage on the recent rise in copper wire theft and was able to recognize what was happening.