Man Stealing Copper From N.C. Substation Electrocuted
Oct. 11--A man was electrocuted on Monday as he tried to steal copper from a Duke Energy substation, police said.
Officers identified the man as Matthew Warren Ward, 29.
Someone called 911 around 11:40 p.m. Monday about a possible fire at the Duke Energy substation on Hovis Road in Stanley.
Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze, but they couldn't reach Ward's body because of downed power lines that were still active.
Gaston County Police believe Ward committed a similar theft at the same location less than a week ago. He has had numerous charges for break-ins and thefts related to cases from late 2010 which were pending trial.
As metal prices have risen in a slumping economy, copper thefts have increased. Vacant homes, large air conditioning units have made easy targets for thieves in the past. But lately, thieves have increasingly turned to more dangerous targets, according to the Associated Press.
In January, Thomas Freeman was killed when he was electrocuted while trying to cut an electrical cable in a bid to steal copper, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
In Gastonia, police say two men were severely burned in December after an explosion that happened while they were trying to steal copper from an electrical substation.
Copyright 2011 - The Charlotte Observer, N.C.
