4 Charlotte men accused of stealing $3K worth of AT&T copper wire

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - Four Charlotte men were accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of copper wire from a location outside of the city.

On Wednesday, Oct. 24, police said four men were accused of stealing $3,000 worth of AT&T copper wire from a location outside of Charlotte.

Police said they recently found an unsecured fence and smelled burnt plastic coming from a Charlotte-Mecklenburg school property.

Officials did not say where the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school property was located.

Police said they checked the location for a fire or another hazard and they were approached by a pickup truck with four people in it.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said when they approached the pickup truck they saw a comforter laid out in the bed of the pickup truck with small copper wires poking out from under it. Police said a cutting instrument was also on top of the copper wires.

Officers said they also found climbing gear, ropes, a harness and shoe spikes.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said the four men, identified as Son Nguyen, Ph Ren Y, Y Menh Nie and Vuh A, cut the copper wire down. The four men allegedly brought the copper to strip it down and burn it before selling it.

All four men were charged with felony possession of stolen property, first-degree trespassing.