An elaborate operation that was looting thousands of dollars in copper wiring from the Esplanade Mall in Kenner has been foiled, police say.
According to Kenner Police, a security officer patrolling the Macy's building on March 27 noticed an exterior door left ajar. Upon further investigation, officers discovered what they described as an elaborate pulley system, powered by a car battery, designed to pull copper wiring out of the walls.
Officers say they found about 200 feet of copper wire that had been rolled, taped, and readied for pickup. Police say that single roll would have been worth $25,000 to $30,000.
Recognizing that this was probably not a one-time job, detectives reviewed security camera footage and identified a truck that was in the area early in the morning. Authorities say the vehicle was later spotted on Airline Highway with a bed full of copper.
Kenner Police
Police say Jason Chapman, the truck's owner, showed up at the mall on April 1, presumably to collect more copper. Officers arrested him and, equipped with warrant to search Chapman's Destrehan home, found another thousand pounds of copper wire as well as receipts from various scrap yards.
"This wasn't just theft," said Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley. "This was a full-scale operation."
Police said they suspect Chapman is involved in multiple copper thefts throughout the region over the past few months, and their investigation continues.
