“Detective William Skaggs received information from Captain Ollie Collins, using LeadsOnline, about a suspect scrapping a large amount of copper. Det. Skaggs then made contact with the business who told him the suspect was coming in multiple times in the past week with copper. It was known through our department that Blytheville, Police Department had a copper theft report that matched some of the property our suspect scrapped. We spoke with detectives from Blytheville and it was believed this could be connected. Shortly after leaving the scrap business, I received a phone call from the scrap business that our suspect just called and told them he was on his way with more ‘pretty copper!’ The car our suspect was driving was obviously loaded with something heavy by the way the back was squatting. The suspect gave me consent to search his vehicle, and we found the truck was packed full of cut copper wire and some type of copper sheets. It was discovered the copper wire was stolen in Blytheville. This case was ultimately turned over to the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Department for further investigation and prosecution, but without the assistance of LeadsOnline, the theft would have never been discovered.”
Sgt. Chris Ellis
Osceola Police Department
Arkansas