Surveillance footage captured a man who stole thousands of dollars worth of copper wiring from street lamps in Dundalk, according to police.
Baltimore County Police said lights along the ramp loops to and from I-695 at Eastern Avenue have gone out since early April, when an unknown suspect began stealing the copper wiring feeding the street lamps.
“Not only does this pose a danger to drivers during the overnight hours, but the wires being taken are live, causing the potential for a fire or electrocution,” police said.
At least five incidents have been reported since April 3, with most of them taking place during the early evening hours, according to police.
Watch the video below:
If stealing the wiring isn't challenging enough, selling it may prove more difficult.
A scrap metal professional, Aaron Hill - President of the Atlantic Recycling Group, said in a quote:
All scrap yards in Maryland follow the same rules by law regarding the information collected for each transaction. To sell scrap metal in Maryland a person must present a government-issued ID. That information about the seller, along with the description and tag number of their vehicle, is connected to the transaction. Each transaction is sent to the state police database.
Police spokeswoman Jen Peach says it's likely drivers saw the thief in the act.
"Or thought that he was supposed to be there, as if he were a worker for BGE or a worker for the county, but he's not," she said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 410-307-2020.
