The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: ericire12 on November 02, 2009, 10:06:29 PM
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Police say a man was electrocuted while trying to steal copper
Authorities said the body of 34-year-old Frankie Sheriff was discovered at about 11:45 p.m. by two Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative workers. They were investigating the cause of an electrical outage in the area of South Highway 11 and Old Seneca Road near Westminster.
The workers were examining a utility pole behind an old textile building when they found Sheriff lying on the ground near the dual poles, which had three transformers with an electrical service feed of 7,200 volts. They also found a flashlight and a crowbar lying near Sheriff's body.
"It appears electrical wires were being cut from the pole and another nearby utility pole, which serviced the textile plant," said Karl Addis, of the coroner's office. "It is believed another individual or individuals were present at the time of this incident and the Oconee County Sheriff's Department continues to investigate."
"I think they weren't counting on transformers being alive," Schmiel said. "They cut power off at meter not at transformer."
Video here:
http://www.wyff4.com/video/21501921/index.html
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A boob from this neck of the woods got fried while stealing electrical wiring from an irrigation pivot.
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The sad thing is, that with that level of industriousness, they could get an honest job. Oh well, saving the tax payers money is at least polite.
FQ13
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The sad thing is, that with that level of industriousness, they could get an honest job. Oh well, saving the tax payers money is at least polite.
FQ13
+1 ;D
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You wouldn't believe how many people have done that. In other countries too. Stupidity knows no borders.
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Awhile back in a nearby community they found a guy dead in a manhole trying the same thing where the electric was under ground.
I know of a business that has twice had the leads stolen from their stationary back up generator to the tranfer switch. There are now security measures in place to hopefully stop any more attempts.
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This costs power companys millions in losses every year.
I don't feel bad when some idiot zaps themselfs.
Lots of pros out there with all the right tools to do it safely costing power companys millions every year.
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I'll bet he never tries THAT shit again!!! ;D
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It's happening all over in the bad economy, Aluminum light poles disappear as well.
FQ, the point is they probably CAN'T find jobs.
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The price of copper is no where near what it was this time last year. last year its was 4.50/ lb
Locally copper theft is way, way down. For awhile I was getting a call a week from some one that had some one steall something off thier house.
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It's happening all over in the bad economy, Aluminum light poles disappear as well.
FQ, the point is they probably CAN'T find jobs.
We were having problems with copper theft before the economy went to shit. Peoples electrical boxes and A/C units being torn apart for the copper wire and tubing. We even had several incidences of the wiring from street lamps on the freeways being stolen by impostor work crews, but I think they might have caught those guys while I was deployed cause I haven't heard of any recent thefts.
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In Charlotte, NC some years back, a "Darwin Candidate" would steal the copper flashing, and roofing valley's, returns etc,... from a high end neighborhood in the middle of the night.
Well, on a frosty December evening, he tried again, this time not gauging the frost on the roof.
Took the express ride right off the third story and landed on a stack of bricks. He was there to greet the contractors the next morning with frost on him as well.
Grade 1 copper is a pretty good right now, not stellar, but we save our scraps at my company, and usually have enough for a company BBQ with all the trimmings including beer.