A Maine man has been charged with using an excavator he hauled to a construction company’s worksite to dig up and steal copper wire. The estimated value of the wire and damage he did totaled $200,000, according to the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office.
The man was arrested when he returned to the scene of the crime a few weeks later, the office reports.
The initial theft occurred June 8 at construction company Cianbro Corp.’s worksite in Moscow. Several of the company’s buildings and storage areas were burglarized.
“It was discovered that the individual responsible had transported an excavator to the Cianbro site,” the Sheriff’s Office reported July 2 on Facebook. “The excavator was utilized to dig up ground wire from a wind tower station.”
Along with the ground wire, “large amounts of copper were stolen.” The thief had also damaged building doors and fences.
Then on June 29, the thief apparently tried to strike again. The Sheriff’s Office got a call at 4 a.m. of “potential activity” at the worksite.
Sgt. William Crawford IV responded and made the arrest.
A 37-year-old man was charged with burglary, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, and aggravated criminal mischief.
He was released after posting $2,500 bail under a special condition that he not return to the Cianbro worksite in Moscow. His first court appearance is scheduled for October 7.
Powered by“Additional charges will be forthcoming once the case has been reviewed by the District Attorney’s Office,” the Sheriff’s Office says.
One commenter posted on the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page:
“Imagine if he put that much effort into an actual paying job.”
