One suspect has been arrested in connection to a string of copper thefts from the West Laville residence hall, but the LSU Police Department is continuing an investigation on a second suspect who remains unidentified.The copper theft incidents, nine in total, began in October 2009 when copper tubing and construction tools were reported missing by the company contracted to work on the dormitory, the name of which could not be released because of the ongoing investigation, said Sgt. Blake Tabor, LSUPD spokesman.After about four similar incidents were reported between October and January, LSUPD began conducting undercover patrols of the area and saw unusual activity.”There were a few incidents where they made patrols, saw nothing, patrolled again an hour later and found copper in the middle of the ground,” Tabor said.The officers suspected the culprit was removing copper tubing from walls in the building and, when officers approached, left the copper on the floor and escaped through an alternate route.LSUPD eventually received a call on March 13 about suspicious activity near West Laville, which led to the arrest of Christopher Powell, a 20-year-old unaffiliated with the University, who was found in the residence hall with remnants of copper tubing and a saw, Tabor said.Powell confessed to stealing copper that night but said it was the only time he had done so. He was charged with seven counts of simple burglary, five counts of criminal damage to property and one count of resisting an officer and booked in East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.He confirmed someone else was involved but did not name the person and refused to give any additional information, Tabor said.More investigation incriminated Powell further.”As a result of arrest, there was a search warrant on his residence,” Tabor said. “We found stolen tools and numerous receipts where he had sold copper in the past.”Cpl. L’Jean McKneely, Baton Rouge Police Department spokesman, said stealing and selling cooper for profit is a common crime in the Baton Rouge area because copper is expensive.”They steal copper wire, steal the gutters or steal anything they can made of copper, and they turn around and sell it,” McKneely said.Copper thieves typically glean as much copper from one location as they can until the missing copper is noticed, McKneely said. “Most people, after they find they’re experiencing that kind of theft, make precautions so they don’t continue to be a victim,” he said.But the thefts in West Laville continued because of a peculiar situation. Powell was working for a subcontractor hired to fix the building’s windows — a company separate from the one doing construction there, Tabor said.”Normally, [Powell] wouldn’t have had entry to that building,” Tabor said. “Our belief is he stole a set of keys from someone doing construction inside.”Powell worked on the building’s windows, and police believe the second suspect was also working there. Tabor said all construction company workers are being investigated regarding the thefts.”They’re no longer being questioned as witnesses,” Tabor said. “They’re now being questioned as suspects.” LSUPD is in the process of reviewing receipts to determine the value of the copper stolen by Powell, Tabor said.”We have to be accurate — for him, as far as restitution he will have to pay back, and for the insurance companies,” he said.
 
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Contact Ryan Buxton at [email protected]