HALL COUNTY, Ga. — An alleged copper wire thief from northeast Georgia is behind bars after deputies say he was found with hundreds of pounds of wire.
The Hall County Sheriff’s Office said James Allen Ray, 39 of Hoschton, is accused of stealing hundreds of pounds of copper wire from a Georgia Power substation.
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HCSO investigators said they determined Ray had allegedly stolen copper wire from the Georgia Power substation on Lula Road on two different occasions in August.
Deputies said he allegedly stole 300 pounds of wire between Aug. 22 and Aug. 24. HCSO said he is accused of stealing another 400 pounds on Aug. 27.
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The total value of the stolen copper wire was estimated to be worth $3,800.
According to the sheriff’s office, investigators found evidence that Ray sold the copper wire to various recycling businesses across the metro Atlanta area, including in Doraville, Jefferson and Norcross.
An arrest warrant was issued for Ray’s arrest on Sept. 11 and he was taken into custody in DeKalb County on Sept. 21 before being transported to the Hall County Jail.
Ray faces two felony counts of theft by taking for the alleged wire theft. The copper Ray took was on spools on work trucks at the substation, according to deputies.
As of the most recent check, jail staff said Ray was still in custody, though he was given a $9,200 bond.
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