Trio of alleged copper cable thieves arrested in Fort Worth
3 arrested for Fort Worth copper thefts
Lake Worth's police chief is getting credit for this arrest. He saw three suspicious people as he was leaving the gym after a workout and immediately called police.
FORT WORTH, Texas - Fort Worth police arrested three people suspected of copper cable thefts.
Copper Theft Suspects Arrested
What we know:
The three people busted on Monday were identified as 57-year-old Danny Kempe and 48-year-old Sheldon Witt from Fort Worth, and 42-year-old Darcie Jackson from Granbury.
Fort Worth police said the arrest was largely thanks to Lake Worth Police Chief Jay Manoshagian, who saw the suspects on Saturday as he was leaving the gym after a workout.
They were in a parking lot in the 2900 block of Shamrock Avenue in north Fort Worth and were allegedly stripping the covering from copper wires.
Chief Manoshagian immediately called the police, and officers arrested them.
They also recovered 155 pounds of copper wire valued on the street at $675 dollars.
"When these thieves are hitting us here in Fort Worth, they’re not getting one foot," said Fort Worth Police Sgt. Anthony White. "They’re taking out 200 to 300 feet at a time. Sometimes more."
Investigators found video evidence showing the suspects removing the copper from a building in the same area.
545% Spike in AT&T Cable Metal Thefts
Big picture view:
On Tuesday, Sgt. White updated city leaders on the escalating problem of copper and communications cable thefts, with emphasis on efforts to identify suspects and stifle the flow of illegal transactions at scrap metal yards.
He said police have seen more than a 500% increase in AT&T cable thefts in the last two years alone.
It’s a crime affecting entire neighborhoods, businesses and even vital emergency communications.
Fort Worth sees 545% spike in AT&T cable metal thefts affecting vital communications
Police say thieves are ripping off utility-grade metal, like the ones used as AT&T communications cables. It's a lucrative crime, with some thieves pocketing up to $40,000.
Fort Worth police have arrested more than 20 people for metal thefts in the past year, but they said it’s not nearly enough.
Chief Manoshagian reminded people about the importance of staying alert to their surroundings and speaking up if they see anything suspicious.
The Source: The information in this story comes from the Fort Worth Police Department and past news coverage.