Two men indicted in Pogo Mine copper thefts
Originally published Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 12:00 a.m.
Updated Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 11:58 a.m.
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Stumble It!FAIRBANKS — Two men are accused of stealing more than $50,000 worth of copper wire from Pogo Mine, located near Delta Junction.
Mark Garwood, 44, and Simeon Staley, 25, have each been indicted on one count of first-degree theft, a felony.
Pogo Mine officials became suspicious of Garwood and Staley in March after the copper wire and other items such as tires began disappearing over the course of about six months.
Alaska State Troopers believe that Staley, who was employed at the mine, would load the copper and other items onto a semi operated by Garwood in the middle of the day and that he would leave with the items. Garwood was employed as a truck driver by a contractor at the time of the thefts, trooper Sgt. Tim Tuckwood said.
Copper has become an attractive target for thieves in recent years as the price of the metal has risen rapidly. A pound of copper is worth between $1.25 and $1.50 when recycled, depending on its condition.
Local law enforcement agencies have investigated at least 10 reports of copper wire thefts in the past year, but the thefts at Pogo have been by far the largest.
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