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Casey sheriff on the trail in copper thefts

January 24, 2007|BRENDA S. EDWARDS

LIBERTY - The Casey County Sheriff's Department has been busy for the past couple of weeks chasing thieves who have taken copper and tools at a school construction site and a utility substation. The officers also are investigating a break-in Sunday at Shannons Grocery.

Deputy Sheriff Bob Weddle thinks that all the thefts may involve the same people.

The officers got a break Tuesday when they confiscated two pickup trucks in Russell County that contained stolen copper, said Weddle.

"We know the copper came from Walnut Hill School," said Weddle.

The intruder at the Shannons Grocery break-in was caught on camera.

Weddle said someone destroyed the outside camera before entering the store about 5:30 a.m. Sunday, but was caught on another camera inside the grocery at the junction of Ky. 910 and Ky. 501. Entrance was gained through glass in a door.

"The boy was loading up cigarettes when the alarm went off," said Weddle. "He dropped them and ran."

More copper was taken from Walnut Hill School during the weekend. Copper pipes were ripped from the walls and paint was splashed on the walls and floor.

Vandalism

Also, two bolt cutters and a cutoff saw were taken from the site and may have been used in other break-ins during the weekend, Weddle said.

"The biggest problem was the vandalism," said Weddle. He estimated damages from the paint and locks cut at the school will run more than $1,000. The saw and cutters were worth more than $900.

Weddle said the saw may have been used to remove a plaque out of a wall at Wolf Creek Dam. The vandalism was reported over the weekend.

The school construction site also was hit by thieves Jan. 11 and copper materials were taken from Peters Pipe and Boiler of Eubank and FREI Plumbing Inc. of Somerset. The items were valued at $2,600.

Deputy Sheriff Chad Weddle said locks were broken on eight storage trailers and several items were taken.

Sheriff Jerry Coffman said earlier that several thousand dollars worth of copper and other items also were taken Jan. 9 from the Taylor County RECC substation on Ky. 70 West.

The intruders took eight 350-foot rolls of copper and two 500-foot rolls of aluminum wire were taken from RECC. Five 40-foot truck ground copper cables, 16 electrical ground chains, a gas drill, two bolt cutters and other items, with an estimated cost of $3,160, were taken from the contractor.

Coffman said copper is selling for $2.50 a pound.

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