A man has been busted embarking on an early morning copper heist on the northern Gold Coast.
Police were patrolling Upper Coomera around 3am on Monday when they noticed a car with no plates parked on the side of the M1 onramp.
When officers searched the vehicle, they allegedly found copper wire in the tray as well as tools inside the vehicle before noticing a rope attached to the vehicle and a manhole.
The nearby light pole was also damaged.
“He was down in the manhole and actively removing copper from services that were down underneath the roadway,” Acting Superintendent Brett Jackson said.
“It has been reported by TMR (Transport and Main Roads) that due to the male’s activity of wilful damage and also stealing some of that copper wiring that some services were affected.”
A 48-year-old man from Woodridge has been charged with wilful damage, stealing, possession of implements that was being or was to be used in relation to particular offences and driving of motor vehicle without a driver’s licence.
He was due to face Southport Magistrates Court on Monday.
Acting Superintendent Jackson urged people not to engage in this kind of activity as it is highly dangerous.
“We definitely discourage people from trying to have any sort of contact with copper wires because may be live and we have seen instances in the past across Queensland where people have received significant and life-threatening injuries because of them tampering with copper wire,” he said.
WATCH THE ARREST BELOW:
