Oneida County Water Pollution Control Plant Employee Charged with Stealing Copper Wire

UTICA, NY – Utica Police officers were called to the Oneida County Water Pollution Control Plant on September 20th following a report of nearly $14,000 worth of copper wire theft. Plant employees discovered the loss and took action, contacting local recycling centers. Their inquiries revealed that an individual had repeatedly scrapped the exact type of copper wire in question.

Further investigation revealed that the person responsible for scrapping the wire was an employee of the facility. Surveillance footage confirmed the theft, capturing the suspect in the act.

On October 4th, Harold Thomas, age 28, of Clinton, voluntarily turned himself in to Utica Police Investigators. Thomas, an employee of the Treatment Plant, was formally charged with Grand Larceny in the third degree.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities assess the full scope of the thefts.