COPPER THEFT UNDER INVESTIGATION

By Jon Mayhew

DENVER -- Lincoln County Sheriff's detectives are investigating the theft of copper items from a construction site in eastern Lincoln County. They are asking for the public's help in solving the latest copper theft.

Deputies were dispatched to a Balsam Ridge Road site around 7:30 am Wednesday after employees with Denver Construction Company found a window broken and the garage door on the back of the building open.

Employees said the building was secure when the last worker left the job site Tuesday around 6:30 p.m.

Stolen in the break-in were 254 feet of various sizes of copper tubing, and elbows and couplings. Damaged were 14 feet of copper tubing, insulation on copper, a window and 100 feet of thermostat wire. The value of the stolen items and damage was estimated in excess of $5,000.

Anyone with information about the break-in should call the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Detective Division at (704) 736-8856 or Crimestoppers at (704) 736-8909. Crimestoppers may pay a reward of up to $1,000 for an anonymous tip leading to an arrest in any crime.