Arrest Made in String of Copper Thefts
By: Gretchen Bolander
Updated: December 12, 2012
JOPLIN, MO--- Samuel Shira, 41, of Joplin is charged with stealing and property damage. Joplin Police allege that Shira is connected to at least eight cases where commercial conditioner units at the 7th and Range Line shopping center were taken apart for copper wiring.
Detectives say Shira admitted to his involvement and expect to file more charges in the coming days.
Joplin Police Lt. Darren Gallup says good old fashioned police work led to the arrest. "The investigations division worked with our patrol division. We put out the information that we had and our patrol officers did a good job of patrolling the businesses. And they actually saw a truck that didn't belong there."
The crimes have cost the victims nearly a quarter of a million dollars.
