Posted on 07/18/2006 11:10:01 AM PDT by Hydroshock
DALLAS -- A man who was electrocuted while on a telephone pole allegedly was trying to steal copper from it, police said.
The man, whose name was not immediately released, died Sunday afternoon, when he cut a live wire from the pole in a vacant lot, said Sr. Cpl. Jamie Matthews.
The case is being investigated as an accidental electrocution, she said.
Police have blamed a rise in copper prices for increased theft of the metal.
Current copper conditions convince conniving criminals copping copper can contribute convenient cash. Consequently, cruel covert copper capers continue constantly.
I was a roofer in the early 1980s. In 1984-1985 I landed a union job roofing the housing area of a large Air Force base. The job took a year and a half.
The job consisted of removing the old ceramic tile, which was attached to the roofs with two copper nails, and replacing it with new ceramic tile, using new copper nails.
The boss told us to get rid of the old copper nails any way we wanted, as it was considered refuse. In the year and a half I roofed, I have no idea how many pounds of old copper nails I took home. I ended up giving them to a homeless guy to sell.
If I would have kept them, and my mom had not thrown out my old baseball cards, I could retire right now.
Over 18 recently. They got a tip, went to the guys house and found several.
With prices ranging from $1.35 to $1.61 a pound I can see why it has been happening.
LOL. I think we've been doing this too long. The same thoughts cross my mind when something like this happens.
Your screen name makes the story that much funnier.
"I meant to do that." ~Pee Wee Herman
Texas : Where even the land and structures themselves kill criminals. I love this state.
Who? Cooper?
Our veterinarian here in southwest Houston told me that thieves tore up his air-conditioner, which is mounted on his roof of his veterinary practice -- and ripped out the cooper tubing.
So very sad.
Ah yes, natural selection....survival of the fittest.....thinning the herd.......
Where's that poster who is the Evolution expert?
This OBVIOUSLY is Darwinian in nature..
It's been a long time since we installed any copper service wire.
I don't think so, Tim. Probably not all utilities are the same but in the 18 years I've worked for the REC, never have we installed any overhead copper wire.
Now I am confused. I get several posts saying we use copper service wire and now one we don't. My house was built in 1961, so I can't go by its wiring. The wire from the pole transformer are aluminum. But if it were a new house ?......
Should "Dallas man" be corrected to "dullass moron" or "illegal alien"?
Unless restricted by local codes aluminum is used nowadays for all wiring except the branch circuits in your house. The problem with aluminum wiring in houses lies in the wire nut connections and the connections to breakers, switches and receptacles. The small diameter aluminum wire oxidizes increasing resistance and it expands and contracts when current flows through it much more than its copper counterparts. The constant expansion and contraction causes loose connections and "loose wires cause fires".
Inside the house: copper. Overhead wires belonging to the utility: aluminum. Substation: some of each. Copper wires from xformer to house haven't been installed in these parts for decades.
And why is it always a "telephone pole"?
I'm sure that his survivors will sue for wrongful death!
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