MCLENNAN COUNTY, Texas — A man has been arrested in McLennan County for allegedly stealing over 90,000 pounds of copper over several years, according to the McLennan County Sheriff's Office (MCSO).
The Sheriff's Office stated that on March 26, detectives received information about a possible theft of copper.
The investigation reportedly led detectives to focus on Adrian Palacios Jr., who they said had been observed selling "a large quantity" of copper to metal scrap yards over an "extended period". Detectives said they traced Palacios's transactions, which reportedly ranged from 2019 to March 2024.
MCSO said detectives learned that specific types of copper sold to the scrap yards originated from a local business. Detectives said when they met with business officials, they told them no one was authorized to take or sell copper material from their company.
The Sheriff's Office said Palacios confessed to taking the copper during the entire period under investigation.
According to the Sheriff's Office, a total of 91,024 pounds of stolen copper was sold to a scrap yard, with Palacios receiving over $280,000 in payment.
Palacios was arrested and taken to the McLennan County Jail for Theft of Precious Metal - Copper Over $150,000 Under $300,000, a second-degree felony, said the Sheriff's Office.
McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara said the arrest "underscores the commitment of the McLennan County Sheriff's Office to combat theft and uphold the law." McNamara encouraged anyone with information about similar incidents to come forward.
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