Crime

Cops speculate sparks spooked copper thief

By Barry Leibowitz

January 6, 2012 / 9:44 AM EST / CBS News

Electrical sparks from a power line were nothing like this lightning bolt, but police in western Pa. police still think it was enough to scare off a would-be copper thief cutting a power line AP Graphics

(CBS/AP) PULASKI, Pa. - Police in western Pennsylvania believe a would-be copper thief was scared away by sparks.

Officer Chad Adams of Pulaski Township, about 40 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, says police found a pair of 3-foot-long bolt cutters on Saturday - still attached to a 480-volt power line that leads to a former school building.

Adams tells the New Castle News that selling copper for scrap is becoming common, so he's guessing that when someone tried to cut down the wire "he saw a big spark and that scared the hell out of him."

Adams says the power line was cut about half-way through.

Police may have the bolt cutters, but they're still searching for the person who bolted after using them.