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Authorities charged a 47-year-old Kaneohe man Thursday with stealing copper wire along the H-3 freeway.
Gregg Humel was charged with theft of copper and five counts of second-degree trespass.
According to documents filed with Honolulu District Court, officers with the Honolulu Police Department’s District 3 Crime Reduction Unit conducted a stakeout of areas of Halawa Access Road and Iwaena Street, near the Board of Water Supply Xeriscape Garden, after receiving information on a series of copper thefts, on Tuesday.
The officers reported seeing Humel illegally entering private property, loading “black bundles” onto a cart and attempting to leave. Officers also discovered that of 16 copper wires previously left under a bridge, only four remained after Humel left the area.
The officers arrested Humel for theft of copper and trespassing. A search of Humel’s cart turned up copper wire and wire insulation left behind was positively matched with wire used inside panels of the H-3.
Humel reportedly told the officers that he had “found” the copper under the bridge.
