Citizen Involvement Helps Stop Copper Theft

A Grand Saline man was arrested last week for copper theft after Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to a theft in progress.

Deputies received a call from a citizen that stated two males were cutting copper wire down from an electric pole in front of her house on VZCR 1222.

The caller advised that she had seen one of the suspects climb over the fence into her yard to retrieve the wire that had been cut.

"She gave us a description of the vehicle that the suspects were driving and a local towing company employee heard the call on the radio and saw the suspects pull into a house down the road," said Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Investigator Randy Vasquez.

Vasquez said that when officers arrived on the scene, David Alan Campbell, 52, was questioned and taken into custody where he was charged with theft over $500 under $1500/precious metals.

"This is another case in which citizen involvement was instrumental in catching this thief," said Van Zandt County Sheriff R.P. "Pat" Burnett.

"When our county citizens stay involved and are aware of their surroundings, it helps us tremendously," said Burnett.