Addison Township Substation Commander Sgt. Pete Burkett is looking for anyone with information concerning the theft of 2,650 feet of copper wiring from the DTE Energy Substation on Rochester Rd.
Jack Horn, field supervisor for DTE Energy, has been working on an expansion project at the DTE Energy substation for several weeks. According to Horn, on April 1, several rolls of copper wire, some insulated and some not, were delivered to the work site. Horn states that when he returned to work on Monday, April 5, he found four spools empty and one with the wire rolled off, but not taken.
Horn stated that one spool was in a temporarily fenced area, and the fencing had been cut. Horn believes that no employees were at the work site over the weekend and he estimated ‘it would have taken two subjects about two hours to take the wire.?
Horn informed sheriff’s deputies that copper wire had recently been stolen from other substations in Lapeer, Imlay City and Macomb Township.
A second DTE Energy employee, Franco, was also present to report the robbery. Franco informed police that items began disappearing about one week after Kent Electric began working on the substation projects with DTE.
According to Franco, Kent Electric is out sourced by DTE Energy to work at that site and ‘it has caused rifts between the DTE employees and Kent employees, although they are all trying to get along as they have to work together.? Franco recalled that Kent began work on the project on March 17, and about one week later DTE employees began noticing items missing; however, he added that some of the items could have been taken by DTE employees to other work sites.
Franco advised officers that after moving a Kent Electric truck parked near the spools on Tuesday, April 6, workers noticed large staples, used to hold the wire onto the spools, under all six truck tires. He described the staples as ‘arranged so that they would flatten the truck tires, but instead were pushed into the dirt under the tires.?
During the initial investigation, Addison Township resident Don Kramer came forward and stated that he saw a burgundy van at the work site over the weekend of the larceny. However, investigators have determined that the van does not appear to have anything to do with the crime.
Sgt. Burkett is asking anyone who may have seen anything unusual that weekend to please contact the Addison Township Substation at 248-628-3600.