GSP: Copper thieves are forcing closure of weigh stations

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. — Several police agencies are investigating copper thefts that have temporarily shut down Georgia State Patrol safety inspection stations.
 
GSP told Channel 2's Amy Napier Viteri that thieves hit all but one light pole at the weigh station in Douglas County on Interstate 20 and knocked out power to one of the scales.
 
Investigators say the same thing has happened at other weigh stations across the metro.
 
"Basically just somebody trying to make an easy dollar," said Lt. Jonathan Mouchet with GSP.
 
Mouchet says between Feb. 21 and 25, thieves stole over $100,000 worth of copper from weigh stations in Carroll, Catoosa and Douglas counties.
 
A dashcam recorded video as an officer chased a man he saw stealing copper from the Douglas County location while it was closed during February's winter storm.
 
The theft left the station completely dark.
 
"Anybody is vulnerable to copper thieves, unfortunately," Mouchet said.
 
The man, driving a white Jeep, got away on foot. But according to incident reports, investigators found serrated bolt cutters inside, matching damage at the weigh stations.
 
They estimate the value of copper stolen at two locations to be $60,000 each.
 
The thefts knocked out lights, including directional arrows for truck drivers at the Douglas County location. It also disabled one of the scales used for weighing trucks. Without lights or directional arrows, GSP had to close the station for two weeks.
 
"Our primary focus is to get out and inspect these trucks and make sure they're safe to be on the road," Mouchet said.
 
Shutting down meant they weren't checking driver hours, log books or vehicle safety maintenance.
 
"That's our No. 1 job focus is to reduce the amount of fatalities that a tractor-trailer could cause," Mouchet said.
 
The Douglas County weigh station is operational during the day but is still closed at night and waiting on GDOT to repair the lights.
 
Investigators are looking into whether all the thefts are connected. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office wants to hear from anyone with information on the case.