Shreveport Police Dept.

Date: Jan 15, 2008

Phone: 318/673-6932 Fax: 318/673-6933

Contact: Randy Patrick, Night-Side P.I.O.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Man arrested for stealing thousands of dollars of Copper

Shreveport Police arrested a 26-year-old Shreveport man on charges of burglary after reportedly stealing about $50,000 worth of copper from Beaird Industries during the summer of 2007.

LaJonathan Oneal is being investigated in other copper thefts from Beaird, which lost more than a quarter of a million dollars in copper metal thefts last year.

The extent of this problem highlights the ongoing issue surrounding the selling of metal at scrap yards and other outlets. In this case, detectives have photographs of Oneal selling the stolen copper to a local scrap yard.

The investigation continues into other incidents at the business, and detectives are working to tighten regulations on a practice that has brought about its own criminal enterprise.

In 2007, Detective Roger Courtney -- whose job is to locate stolen items that are sold second-hand -- arrested more than 60 people for crimes that ran the gamut from stealing air conditioner and auto parts to metal vases on top of tombstones.

Information can be left with crimestoppers at 673-7373 or by logging onto the crimestoppers website at www.crimestoppersshreveportcaddo.com.

-spd-

View all SPD press releases at www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/spdnews