WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University police are investigating the theft of about $15,000 worth of copper electric power cable from a storage compound near the Physical Facilities Service Building off Ahlers Drive.

Purdue police Lt. Fred Davis said approximately 2,500 feet of coiled electric power cable was taken sometime between Wednesday (Oct. 29) evening and early Thursday (Oct. 30) morning. About 50 rolls of black plastic-coated cable, each weighing 40-50 pounds and 50 feet in length, were taken from storage containers at the compound, he said.

The theft was reported to police at about 10 a.m. Thursday after employees of the high-voltage electric shop noticed that a storage container was missing its padlock, and the door was open.

Theft is a Class D felony punishable by up to three years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.

Anyone with information related to the case is asked to call the Purdue Police Department at (765) 494-8221 or the anonymous tipline at (765) 496-3784.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Someone has absconded with more than half a mile of copper wire from a campus construction storage area, and the Purdue police would like to know who.

Purdue police on Thursday (April 24) are looking for information about the theft of approximately $44,000 worth of insulated copper wire from a construction storage area on campus during the past three weeks.

A Purdue employee told police approximately 2,800 feet of stranded copper wire, ranging in thickness from one-fourth of an inch to one inch in diameter, was taken at some point after April 4. The insulated copper wire was taken from a construction storage area near the Physical Facilities service building, said Lt. Fred Davis.

Davis said the wire, which is used for electrical construction and remodeling projects at the university, may have been taken, stripped of its plastic coating, and then sold to a salvage company.

The person or people responsible for the theft may have had to make multiple trips to haul the copper wire away since such a large amount was taken, Davis said.

Theft is a Class D felony punishable by up to three years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.

Anyone with information related to the case is asked to call the Purdue Police Department at (765) 494-8221 or the anonymous crime tip line at (765) 496-3784.