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Thieves destroy electrical transformers

By Vershal Hogan (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Thursday, July 15, 2010

FERRIDAY — Thieves apparently trained in electrical infrastructure destroyed five electrical transformers to steal the copper tubing inside.

According to a news release from the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office, the theft and vandalism, which happened on Fisherman Drive, Bayou Drive and Concordia Drive, was reported Tuesday morning.

A representative from Entergy Corporation reportedly told the CPSO that the vandalism appeared to have been done by someone trained in the electrical field.

In addition to the damage caused by the theft of the copper, the transformers leaked oil on the ground.

The estimated cost of the vandalism, which includes cleaning up the oil, is $28,000.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact CPSO Investigator Phillip Webber at 318-757-3162, 318-336-5231 or 3138-386-2200.

Comments

Posted by NTZ2ATL2010 (anonymous) on July 15, 2010 at 12:21 a.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by Sarge (anonymous) on July 15, 2010 at 4:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm wondering just HOW anyone can take down FIVE transformers..... and the people in those areas didn't notice that their electricity was off right away! I mean it is the middle of Summer and hot as hell!
I'd sure notice if I awoke and was burning up and nothing in my house was running!!

It had to be someone with a bucket truck or climbing gear to be able to get up those poles and take the transformers down! Stuff like that takes time and not just one person could do all that and not be seen or heard by someone!

Thieves are getting very inventive lately for just a few feet of copper! Geezzzzzzzz..............
NOTHING is safe anymore!

Posted by batsnapper (Allen Richard) on July 15, 2010 at 8:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

What's the value of the copper stolen? How much work did it take to steal the copper? If the theives worked that hard during the day, they could probably hold down a real job, make more money, and not be a wanted fugitive. Stupid is right.

Posted by NTZ2ATL2010 (anonymous) on July 15, 2010 at 8:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

STUPID!!

Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on July 15, 2010 at 9 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This is such a shame and it's sad. There seems to be no length great enough for a thief to go. Imagine if this much effort was put toward being productive and constructive, instead of destructive, what a great person a thief could probably be.

Posted by natchezsouthside (anonymous) on July 15, 2010 at 10:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

even more important--who is fencing this stolen stuff. There are only a few scrap metal buyers around here. They have to know the stuff is hot. Go after the scrap dealers!!!

Posted by naturegirl (anonymous) on July 15, 2010 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Maybe they used the mini-horses to haul it off to a dealer far away from here.

Posted by cosmicdust (anonymous) on July 15, 2010 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

inside stuff seems to me like.

Posted by jammin1 (anonymous) on July 15, 2010 at 3:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

cosmicdust I had the same idea. Doesn't the town of Ferriday have a bucket truck? Some of the town's employees handle the Christmas decorations on the poles. It wouldn't be much of a stretch to believe they could also have knowledge enough to do this. There have already been allegations made that employees of the town were taking people's metal from their yards and taking it to PacMan.

I would have to think it was an inside job too!

Posted by NatchezMS1978 (anonymous) on July 15, 2010 at 6:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Copper thieves...this is not a new issue

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jun/03/...

http://message.snopes.com/showthread.php...

http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/eyewitnes...

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006...

Posted by RTSJR2 (anonymous) on July 15, 2010 at 7:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think that it would take more knowledge to fool with that much electricity than someone who plugs in a Christmas Decoration.

Just sayin??

Posted by Continental_Line (anonymous) on July 15, 2010 at 9:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ferriday: "da thurd wurld "
Sorry, that should read : " The cleanest town in Louisiana ".