February 2008

Score One for the Good Guys

Copper thieves nabbed by diligent dispatcher

The rash of copper theft in our area has no sign of letting up. But here’s a warning that Walton EMC’s facilities are not an easy mark.

Recently, a pair of copper rustlers was caught red-handed trying to steal wire from the cooperative’s Snellville Operations Center. But the crooks didn’t realize the entire area is blanketed by closed-circuit video surveillance.

These are the last few moments of freedom for this unsuspecting copper thief attempting to burglarize Walton EMC’s Snellville Operations Center. Not long after appearing on camera, this crook took up residence in the Gwinnett County Jail.

As the thieves went about their business, an astute weekend dispatcher followed their every move. He notified Gwinnett County police, who quickly showed up and took the men into custody.

“Walton EMC’s Control Center is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. That also means our video cameras are monitored 24/365,” says Control Center Operations Supervisor Shannon Still. “Of course, we also record what the cameras see, so the evidence is available for law enforcement.”

“We’re not going to sit idly by and let our materials walk off,” says Greg Brooks, communications coordinator. “Copper theft is not a victimless crime. It’s money out of our customer-owners’ pockets–and that makes us very mad.”

Besides surveillance, Walton EMC has taken other steps to thwart copper bandits. One measure is to make wire inaccessible by removing it at the end of the day from job sites and company trucks.

Stealing from our warehouses lands the perpetrators in jail. But stealing from our energized power lines and transformers could land them in the morgue.

Walton EMC has investigated instances where thieves have cut locks on and unbolted underground transformers to steal wire. In other cases, they’ve cut wire off poles and pulled wire from the ground.

“The small amount of money they get is not worth their life,” says Loss Control Director Larry Thompson. “I don’t think they realize the danger they’re exposing themselves to by fooling with energized wire and transformers.”

Most of the time, underground transformers are left open after the act, setting a booby trap for curious children.

Legislation signed into law last year by Governor Sonny Purdue stiffened penalties for copper theft and made it easier to elevate the crime to felony status.

If you observe suspicious activity around Walton EMC lines or facilities, especially in deserted, unbuilt subdivisions, please call local law enforcement immediately.

Cuff the Copper Robbers - GEORGIA Magazine

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