Drone and tech help track circuit breaker theft
Nearly 300 circuit breakers have been recovered in Texas after police caught the suspect.
Image for illustrative purposes
USA, Texas, Anna: Police in Anna have recovered 288 stolen electric circuit breakers following a targeted operation that used modern surveillance technology, including drones and automated licence plate readers.
The investigation began after a series of thefts from new housing developments in Anna and nearby North Texas cities. Circuit breaker panels, which can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars, were taken from unoccupied properties under construction, making them easy targets.
Detectives gathered evidence linking a suspect to multiple thefts and entered a vehicle’s licence plate into the Flock plate reader system. On 10 August, the system alerted officers that the car was in town. Patrol units and a detective coordinated a response, using a drone to quietly monitor the suspect’s movements in a residential area for over an hour before making an arrest.
The suspect, 33-year-old Raymond Fernando Salazar Melgar, was stopped on Texas Highway 5 near Anna Town Square and charged with burglary of a habitation and driving without a licence. Police say he has industry experience in installing circuit breakers, enabling him to remove them quickly for resale on the black market.
Officers reported that the suspect identified nine locations, across Anna and other cities, where breakers had been stolen.
Authorities noted that theft from unoccupied new builds is a recurring issue in rapidly developing areas, with past incidents involving windows, appliances, and electrical equipment. Builders are being encouraged to install cameras and additional security measures to protect construction sites.
The woman accompanying the suspect was not arrested but may face charges later.
Source: NBC DFW
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