Police stop would-be copper wire thief

Braselton police prevented a would-be thief from stealing copper wire from a power substation, according to an incident report.

Two officers were sent to a Jackson EMC power substation on Ga. Hwy. 124 in Barrow County on Saturday night, when a silent alarm was activated at the facility.

One of the officers went to the main entrance of the power substation, while the other went to a neighboring shopping center.

When the officer who was at the shopping center approached a hill by the power substation, he heard a noise and noticed a vehicle parked on the nearby entrance ramp to I-85. He told the other officer to stop the vehicle, but it left before the second officer arrived.

One of the officers noticed that part of the fence around the power substation was cut, according to an incident report. He also found several gym and school bags with electrician tools, as well as cutting tools left on the scene by the suspect.

A third officer arrived on the scene with a Jackson EMC lineman, and a bolt cutter was found on the ground between the substation and the interstate. Police believe that the suspect was taking the bolts off of the ground wires when officers arrived.

Braselton police said because of their quick response, the suspect didn’t take any copper wire from the power substation. Jackson EMC employees secured the fence.

A skullcap from the suspect was also found on the scene. Braselton police said the incident remains under investigation.