Provincial police have arrested and charged a man in connection with a large-scale copper theft in Tiny over the weekend.
Southern Georgian Bay OPP responded to a reported theft on Monday at a construction and quarry site on Lafontaine Road East where they determined a suspect entered the property on a motorized electric tricycle sometime between July 18 and 19.
Police say the alleged perpetrator accessed secured storage containers, eventually removing copper wire from a piece of heavy equipment. Approximately, the theft caused $60,000 in damages and disrupted the company's operations by rendering the equipment inoperable.
Eventually, investigators identified a suspect that had allegedly sold stolen copper and brass to a local scrap metal recycler, which was later confirmed to be from the construction site.
As a result, a 55-year-old man from Penetanguishene was arrested and charged with break-and-enter, mischief to property over $5,000, theft over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, trafficking property obtained by crime, and possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime
He was held for a bail hearing.
"Thefts involving copper and other recyclable metals can have significant impacts on businesses, construction projects, and critical infrastructure," the detachment said in a news release. "Police encourage the public to report suspicious activity involving construction sites, utility infrastructure, and scrap metal recycling facilities."
