Two West Precinct lieutenants arrested a burglar on Friday in the Chinatown-International District after they spotted him rolling a bike and a garbage can, both wrapped and packed with copper wire, down the street.
Around 12:30 PM, West Precinct Lieutenants Lora Alcantara and John Brooks were driving near 6th Avenue and Main Street when they saw the man, who was walking alongside a bike with large coils of wire hanging off the handlebars.
Due to a number of recent burglaries in the area, and the fact that the man’s wire appeared as if it had been torn or quickly cut, the lieutenants contacted the man and asked about the wire, which he soon admitted was stolen. Police seized the wire from his bike, and the garbage can.
Officer Josh Vaaga then drove the suspect around to find the location where he’d stolen the copper wire—a construction site near Yesler Terrace. The man also told police he steals copper wire about once a week.
Police booked the 55-year-old man into the King County Jail for investigation of burglary.