By Sarah Stewart
October 9, 2018
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City police arrested three men on Monday who they say spent the summer stealing copper wiring from New Dominion oil field sites in southeast Oklahoma City.
“The three main players probably made about $30,000 over the course of the summer by stealing the copper, taking it to the metal recyclers and getting paid for what they’re taking in,” said Master Sergeant, Gary Knight with the Oklahoma City Police Department.
The men were taking the copper wiring to Gold Metal Recyclers in Valley Brook where they sold it for around two dollars a pound.
And police say the recycling company was instrumental in helping get the arrests.
“They had surveillance cameras set up there that assisted us and there were other things they do that the law requires them to do such as get tag numbers, identification on people, things like that,” said Msgt. Knight.
Police arrested Rodolfo Perez, 45, Cody Taber, 28 and Austin Taber, 28 on Monday.
They say the men were in the process of stripping the copper wiring at a house in southeast Oklahoma City when they were taken into custody.
A significant amount of work went in to making the arrests.
Detectives utilized LeadsOnline, a scrap metal database that lets them track selling activity.
They say Perez sold 189 items from June through September.
Cody Taber sold 81 items during that same time period.
The amount of copper wiring stolen was significant, but even worse is the amount of damage the company sustained.
Police say the damage to equipment at New Dominion oil fields because of the thefts is estimated at 12 and a half million dollars.
Police say this is an ongoing investigation and there could be more arrests.
Source: https://kfor.com/2018/10/09/okc-police-arrest-men-for-stealing-copper-wiring-causing-millions-of-dollars-in-damages/