Posted on 03/01/2008 9:19:37 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster
Transient with tools linked to copper burglary dies in fall
By Paul Burgarino STAFF WRITER
Article Launched: 03/01/2008 03:09:29 AM PST
MANTECA -- A transient believed to have fallen 30 feet to his death through the skylight of a Manteca industrial building on Wednesday evening was found in possession of tools associated with copper burglary. About 8:25 a.m. Thursday, Manteca police were called to a vacated building in the 400 block of Industrial Park Drive after Nicholas Grandmaison, 27, of Manteca was found dead after apparently falling from an upstairs skylight, said John Orcutt, a Manteca police captain.
Grandmaison landed on the concrete entryway of the building. He was discovered by a construction worker, who contacted police.
The building was completely secure, Orcutt said, adding that the doors were welded shut and windows on the ground floor were secure.
Further investigation by police found Grandmaison was in possession of wire cutters or pliers, Orcutt said Friday.
Police are calling the death an accident, but Orcutt said it is a "definite possibility" that Grandmaison was at the building to steal copper.
The building has been the target of more copper thefts than any other in town, police said.
During the past several years, there have been numerous reports of trespassing and theft at the building, along with multiple arrests for people stealing copper wire, said Rex Osborn, a police spokesman.
Darwin
Idiot he was.....Grandmaisons are for marble. Copper is for plumbers. Wrong profession!
He go splickety splat to end his career. Hope he at least gets a copper casket.
Hey. We electricians use copper!!!
Fair enough...plug ‘electricians’ into post #3.
lol...
I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to see the “victim’s” family suing the business for keeping the building so secure he was “forced” to do something risky.
So do we HVAC mechanics.
I read a claim report once about a man who was stealing the aluminum support wires from utility poles. He happened on a neighborhood where the lines went underground. He tried to cut a powerline and was dead before he closed the cutters.
To me this is an occupational hazard. As far as I am concerned there should be a law that makes a property owner immune from suits for any inherent risks when someone is trying to steal from you. If you fall from a very high place when trying to steal wire you get nothing.
I hope the skylight and tools are ok.
A building where I work had the copper flashing stolen from the peak of the roof, where it is not visible from the ground. By the time the damage was detected several weeks later, hundreds of thousands of dollars damage had been done, all so some jackass could steal $10 worth of copper.
I tell you, if I had caught up with the fellow who did the damage that day, it would have made this guy’s death look merciful.
Prayers for a misguided soul.
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