Copper theft arrests lead to cache of stolen goods
By BRIAN STANLEY bstanley@stmedianetwork.com November 20, 2012 3:44PM
The Tri-County Auto Theft Task Force investigators seized two semi-trailers Monday and found hundreds of items that have been reported stolen. Included were forklifts, lawn mowers and power tools. | Larry Ruehl~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: December 22, 2012 6:25AM
The continuing investigation into a $500,000 copper heist has led to a seizure of two semi-trailers.
Tri-County Auto Theft Task Force Deputy Director Dwayne Killian said both trailers contain thousands of items that have either been reported or appear to have been stolen.
Between Oct. 12 and 15, intruders used a stolen dump truck and Bobcat loader to remove nearly 30 tons of copper plates from a warehouse in unincorporated Lemont.
Last Wednesday, agents reportedly found Mike Anderson, 27, and Kyle Anderson, 22, moving copper from one trailer to another at an industrial park in Oak Lawn. The brothers were arrested on theft charges and booked into the Cook County Jail.
Killian said investigators then discovered the trailers seized with the copper were registered at a depot in Bridgeview.
“On Monday we went there and found two other trailers with (the same registration), one of which had no I.D. tags or identification numbers,” Killian said.
On Tuesday, the task force was given a warrant to search the trailers and brought them to a nearby loading facility. Police spent hours removing power tools, air compressors, hand tools, lawn equipment, generators and a beer keg.
Cases of neon clocks with a Harley-Davidson logo were stacked near a lawn mower the operator stands on to use.
“Some of these containers of tools have already come back as stolen and we have strong suspicions the rest is, too,” Killian said.
The second trailer contained at least two forklifts. The registration for the industrial equipment was being checked Tuesday afternoon.
“This investigation is still ongoing and more arrests may result,” Killian said.
