PD: Copper burglar-to-be caught red-handed

Mesa Police have arrested a man who they say broke into an industrial yard over the weekend, presumably to steal copper wire.

Just after midnight on Saturday, private security personnel were viewing video surveillance footage and observed a man trying to cut the fence to the yard with a pair of bolt cutters.

They called police, who dispatched the Air Unit.

The suspect fled the area on foot and was located a short time later by officers. The bolt cutters and wire cutters were found in a bush next to the suspect.

Robert L. Moss, 55, was booked into jail on charges of attempted third degree burglary and possession of burglary tools.

Police believe his target was the large quantity of copper wire inside the yard.