Adam D. Davis, 24, of Lexington Park, has been arrested and charged in St. Mary's County in connection with the theft of "large amounts of copper" from Super Salvage in California. (Arrest photo)
CALIFORNIA, Md. (September 9, 2011)—Adam D. Davis, 24, of Lexington Park, has been arrested and charged in connection with the theft of "large amounts of copper" from Super Salvage in California. Davis is a former employee of the business.
Police say they were called to the business numerous times between July 23 and August 22 regarding reports of burglaries occurring during the night-time hours.
The St. Mary's County Bureau of Investigation (BCI) assumed the investigation and determined that Davis was responsible. Davis was subsequently charged with Second Degree Burglary, Theft under $1,000, Theft $1,000 - $10,000, and Theft Scheme $10,000 - $100,000. Davis was incarcerated in the St. Mary's County Detention Center pending an appearance before the District Court Commissioner.
The theft of copper and other metal from public and private property has become epidemic across the nation as the economic depression rages on. Thieves have even resorted to stealing copper wire from live high-voltage power systems and manhole covers from public streets. The amount of money the thieves are able to sell the stolen metal for on the scrap metal market typically pales in comparison with the cost to repair the damage done by the theft. Some thieves have even lost their lives when stealing copper wire from live electrical systems.