Police Seek Information on Copper Theft

Police believe the suspects were traveling to remote locations to obtain copper for eventual sale to scrap dealers or smelters.

Salem-News.com

(CHRISTMAS VALLEY, Ore.) - Oregon State Police say a trooper stopped a pickup truck this afternoon near Christmas Valley laden with suspected stolen copper wire. OSP Fish & Wildlife Trooper Curtis Weaver was on routine patrol around 1:20 PM when he stopped a black Mazda pickup which was nearly dragging its trailer hitch on the highway.

The pickup was westbound on Christmas Valley Highway near US 395 about three to four miles east of Christmas Valley in rural Lake County. Police say the reason for the pickup being overweight was that the bed was full of coiled copper wire, the origin of which remains unknown.

The driver of the pickup, 36-year old Peter Sharipoff of Mt. Angel, is being charged with Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine. His brother 41-year old Andry Sharipoff, also of Mt. Angel, was a passenger vehicle and is not currently charged with any offenses.

Trooper Weaver suspects that the Sharipoff brothers stole the copper wire but he has not been able to identify any victims.

"The distance traveled by the Sharipoffs indicates that they may travel to remote locations to obtain copper for eventual sale to scrap dealers or smelters."

Trooper Weaver is requesting the public's assistance in identifying potential theft victims. Anyone with information about stolen copper is requested to call Trooper Weaver through the OSP Southern Command Dispatch Center at 800-442-2068 and reference case #SP07-4422068.

Source: Oregon State Police