Man caught after police say he crashed his car while stealing copper wiring

NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Police said a comedy of errors helped them arrest a man they said was stealing spools of copper from an Alpharetta construction site.

Security at Avalon called police after finding an abandoned crashed car last weekend. Moments earlier, police said the truck sped away from the luxury mixed-use property.

"That vehicle turned off its headlights, driving in behind a business complex and then crashed,” said officer Jason Muenzer.

Muenzer said officers found the crashed car and stolen copper inside.

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Police were stumped until they say Shaquille Hunte came running to a gas station across the street and asked an officer here for help.

"He was wearing some boots that apparently had mud on the boots and he was sweating profusely,” Muenzer said.

Muenzer said officers connected Hunte to the car after finding his license inside it, as well as 32 spools of copper they believe he'd taken from the hotel construction site.

“Typically, what they'll do is take this copper wire home. They'll chop it up and take it off to go get recycled,” Muenzer said.

Hunte is now facing felony burglary charges after the comedy of errors.

Cox Media Group