Suspected Copper Thief Electrocuted Using Bolt Cutters On Live Wire In Southern California

Robert Buchanan, 26, electrocuted himself while using bolt cutters to cut live wires from a power pole, officials say. flickr: oskay

FONTANA, Calif. -- A suspected Southern California copper thief has been electrocuted after climbing a power pole and using bolt cutters on a live wire, which also caused a power outage.

The San Bernardino County Sun says the body of 26-year-old Robert Buchanan and bolt cutters were found early Monday at the base of a utility pole in an unincorporated area near Fontana.

Nearly 3,100 Southern California Edison customers were without power for about 90 minutes.

San Bernardino County sheriff's investigators say Buchanan apparently used the bolt cutters to cut live wires from the pole.

A sheriff's spokeswoman says Edison wires are a frequent target of metal recyclers.

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Comments

[Jerry Bourbon]

01:09 PM on 05/07/2012

I bet he was absolutely SHOCKED to discover that the wire was live...

[Vasya Bricklyn]

12:01 PM on 05/07/2012

NASCAR is down one fan.

[1frank]

01:40 AM on 04/20/2012

should happen more often save tax payers money and free space in jail .

[Bills Catz]

10:45 AM on 04/19/2012

Ah, can't beat a crankster for mindless energy. LOL Bet he got a real charge out of that scam.

[lostson]

01:31 AM on 04/19/2012

This one made me smile, guess the smart a** was just took himself out of the gene pool.

[mcurtis2962]

01:13 PM on 04/18/2012

ROFLMBO!!!!!

[muscle guy]

06:06 AM on 04/18/2012

too bad, obama lost another potential voter...........tsk,tsk.........

[baw409]

07:59 AM on 04/18/2012

And this has what to do with Obama, Do you have trouble paying attention...

[ruselperry]

08:43 AM on 04/19/2012

Agent orange rots the brain.

[Louis Bricano]

12:08 PM on 05/06/2012

Touchy, aren't you? Of COURSE he was an Obama voter! You can't seriously think otherwise, can you?

[Cody30]

06:00 AM on 04/18/2012

Sweet justice.

[fred116]

05:42 AM on 04/18/2012

Wow, not a single person has any sympathy for this poor person...me neither. Another one burnt to dust!

[tccat4]

05:34 AM on 04/18/2012

Most wire used by cable and phone are limited in the amount of copper. Except there is a grounding wire usually running down the pole to a ground rod at the base. I will never understand why people think a few dollars is worth more then their life...
Its not the volts that kill ya but the amps.

[Al Schrader]

05:29 AM on 04/18/2012

"Ok granny." "Jethro, hurry up and connect my party line" "Ok, granny. These wires are just buzzing with calls". You know times are hard when they start cutting live power lines for the copper.

[CommentMood]

04:48 AM on 04/18/2012

I think more copper/metal/anything thieves should try this!!!! Can we start an awareness campaign for them? All you people stealing metal, LOOK UP!!!! Plenty of pretty wires to be had for the taking! Just climb the pole.... wanna borrow a ladder?

[special38x2]

10:36 PM on 04/23/2012

Naw, next thing you know they'll be suing because signs weren't put up warning of risks & some dumb judge/jury will agree that since electric companies knew this was a trending problem, they had a duty to act....

[CommentMood]

05:58 AM on 04/24/2012

Probably. I'm sure Benjamin Franklin will be named in the suit...

[Backman]

03:32 AM on 04/18/2012

One less low life around

[Jeff Miletich]

03:02 AM on 04/18/2012

He got what he deserved.

[SameBoat]

09:51 AM on 04/18/2012

Since when is simple theft a capital offense?

[Jeff Miletich]

12:04 PM on 04/18/2012

I wouldn't call putting the lives of others in danger a "simple" act. He knocked out power for 3,100 people. What if one of those people's life depended on electricity? What about the power that traffic signals need to operate? His selfish act could have caused some serious accidents.

[temeculapaul]

02:53 AM on 04/18/2012

The thief was charged. It was revolting.