New Database Pays Dividends, Help Nab First Copper Thief

 

November 8, 2007 - Investigators from the Houston Police

Department’s Burglary and Theft Division, with the assistance

of a new scrap metal dealers’ electronic database, have

arrested and charged a suspect responsible for the theft

and sale of several thousand pounds of copper telephone

cable, worth more than $4,000, to scrap metal businesses

                       in Houston.

 

The suspect, Bobby Joe Crain (b/m, DOB: 1-18-55), of 8614 Prima, is

charged with felony theft in the 232nd State District Court following

his arrest on Monday (November 5). On November 1, investigators

from the HPD Burglary and Theft Division inspected a scrap metal business,

The Metal House, at 3119 Jensen Drive and discovered 245 pounds of

copper telephone cable belonging to A T & T purchased on October 30th

and 31st.

 

Using the purchase receipt, which contained the name and identification

of the suspect, the suspect’s information was entered into the LeadsOnline

database. The database produced Crain as the suspect and also

determined he had sold 829 pounds of the same type of copper telephone

wire to another scrap metal yard in the Houston area. Transaction

records of this sale obtained through electronic reporting positively identified

Crain as the suspect in this case.

 

On Monday (Nov. 5), officers responded to a call that Crain was attempting

to sell another load of copper telephone wire at 3119 Jensen Drive. Crain

was taken into custody and 431 pounds of stolen copper telephone wire

were recovered.