Two Men Arrested For Copper Theft
LAS CRUCES, NM – Police arrested two men who broke into a local business and stole more than 400 pounds of copper.
35-year-old Aaron Spaulding, of 1804 E. Idaho, and 25-year-old Anthony James Crowley, of 6910 Fox Rd., were arrestedshortly before 6 p.m. Friday. The arrests were made after aLas Cruces Police officer stopped the vehicle believed to be used during the copper theft.
Investigators tell ABC-7 the theft occurred sometime between late Thursday night and early Friday morning.
Early Friday morning police were called to investigate the theft of copper sheets from the Rocky Mountain Shipping yard onWest Amador Avenue. According to Police, someone cut through a fence and took at least four copper sheets from a semi trailer parked inside the yard during the night. LCPD detectives put out an alert for all officers to be on the lookout for the stolen copper or the suspect vehicle.
Spaulding and Crowley were each arrested on larceny and conspiracy charges. They were booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Centerand a$10,000 bond was issued for both men.
Copper thefts have increased locally and across the nation as the salvage price for the metal has more than quadrupled from 80 cents a pound in 2003 to around $3.60 today. Thieves typically target pipes and electrical cables.
