A thief or thieves bypassed multiple locks and stole hundreds of pounds of copper wiring, copper supplies and power tools from work trucks at a power substation in the Center Grove area, and investigators are asking for the public’s help in solving the crime.
The theft happened Oct. 16 or 17 at the sub-station at 1355 S. Runyon Road, according to a report from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.
A padlock had been removed from a gate, and a hole large enough for a person to walk through had been cut in the fence. About 250 pounds of copper wiring, copper supplies and several power tools from work trucks had been stolen, the sheriff’s office said. Gaylor Electric trucks had been parked inside the fence Oct. 16. The trucks have high-security padlocks, the report said.
A trail camera captured a man walking nearby, and investigators would like to identify and speak to him, Sheriff Doug Cox said. The padlock from the gate was found near the area where the person was seen walking on the trail camera.
A few days before the theft at the substation, sheriff’s deputies investigated a similar theft at a cellular tower on Bluff Road, south of County Line Road.
Anyone with information or who can identify the man in the photo is asked to call the sheriff’s office investigations tip line at 317-346-4654.
