Sumter County: Deputies arrest two people for stealing thousands of dollars worth of copper wire

SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. (WOLO)– Two people are accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of copper wire from Duke Energy, said Sumter County deputies.

The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office said Theresa Browder and Wade Blackburn were arrested in connection with the case after months of investigating.

A Sumter County Deputy checking property at a Duke Energy substation in the area of Red Bay Road in late October noticed several rolls of power wire in random places on the ground and the latch on a lock broken from a shipping container, stated the sheriff’s office.

Investigators said there were similar incidents where copper wire had been stolen over the past few months.

Evidence and followed leads led investigators to believe Blackburn and Browder were responsible for copper wire being stolen from multiple places.

Also, investigators stated both Blackburn and Browder admitted to the previous incidents.

Both of them were arrested and taken to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center.

Blackburn and Browder were each held on a $12,500 surety bond.

Anyone with information that may be helpful to the investigation is asked to call the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office at 803-436-2000.