Accused Copper Thief Electrocutes Himself In Far Northeast Theft Attempt
by Alex Lloyd Gross
There is an abandoned KFC on the 9300 block of the Roosevelt Boulevard. It is being demolished and a power junction box is nearby. police said that last night about 10:25 PM a male who is still unidentified saw the junction box and thought it was not live.
He could not have been more wrong. He wanted to steal copper wire, police said and wound up causing a surge that caused a small fire. The male was electrocuted and rushed to a local hospital. His condition was so critical that he had to be helicoptered to Jefferson University Hospital.
Police said the male is in critical condition. When he electrocuted himself, he caused a power outage to the strip mall ans well as about 1500 homes and nearby businesses. When he is released from the hospital, police will be charging him with arson. He is described as an unidentified male between 40-50 years old.
There has been an uptick in copper wire thefts. Recently, the portal in center city was closed when copper thieves hit that about a month ago. A new junction box was installed and it is live and should be left alone.