Two men are facing charges in connection with the theft of copper telecommunications cables in Houston on February 2.
Robert Lee Morales, 38, and Carlos A. Gonzales Jr., 47, were caught on camera cutting and stealing copper cable from a pole in the 7000 block of Merriwood Lane.
Recommended Videos
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Video captures copper wire thieves in Houston’s Northside neighborhood before internet outage
The crime was seen by a resident, who spotted the two men. She grabbed her phone and recorded the entire thing. The men loaded the stolen cable into their truck and hurried off.
Investigators saw the video on KPRC 2 news and launched an investigation soon after. They also got an anonymous tip based on the story, which led to charges being filed against the two suspects, who are currently wanted.
According to the police, the suspects took about 250 feet of copper cable. A day after the theft, Morales sold 80 pounds of burnt copper wire at Alstar Recycling and received $272 in cash, court records show.
OTHER CRIME: Metal thieves impacting everything from emergency communications to getting prescriptions filled
Surveillance images from the yard matched his Texas ID, and further investigation tied him to a black Chevy truck seen at the scene, which was registered to him.
CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Copper thief leaves NW Harris County restaurant without power
Now, both Morales and Gonzales are facing charges of theft of telecommunications cable.
