Bourke, NSW: Man allegedly steals 1.2 tonnes of copper wire from mine site in exchange for cash
Police allege the theft happened over two nights.
A man has been accused of stealing 1200 kilograms of copper from a New South Wales mine site.
Last month, a series of alleged copper thefts prompted NSW Police in the state’s west to launch Strike Force Greenhorn to investigate.
On August 26, it is alleged 500 kilograms of copper wire was stole around 2am from a Girilambone mine.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Then, around 1am on August 28, a copper wire roll was stolen from the same location.
On September 3, a ute was searched on the Mitchell Highway near Narromine and tools including a bolt cutter, angle grinder, and hammer drill were seized by police.
On September 14, police arrested a man in Bourke in relation to their findings.
A search of a house on Bogan Street found a backpack containing knives and two slingshots.
The 37-year-old man was charged with two counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, two counts of disposing of the property from theft equal to more than $5000, and one count of possessing a prohibited weapon without a permit.
Police allege the man disposed of more than 1200 kilograms of copper wire at a scrap metal facility in Dubbo to make approximately $7250.
They allege this transaction happened between August 26 and 28.
He was refused bail and is expected to appear in court on Tuesday.
