Sacramento Police said a man was electrocuted late Tuesday night when he was trying to cut a high-voltage power line to steal copper wire for its recycling value.

"Deputies responded, along with firefighters," said Sacramento police spokesman Norm Leong. "They found a man from the Roseville area who appears to have been trying to steal copper wiring from the electrical lines in the SMUD box."

Police said the 38-year-old man died in an attempt to steal copper wire at Harry Renfree baseball field near Auburn Boulevard and Watt Avenue about 10:30 p.m. A city pump was also damaged in an apparent theft at the baseball complex.

Leong said the man used a bolt cutters or another type of cutting device. The man was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A Sacramento Municipal Utility District troubleshooter also responded to the scene. SMUD had to temporarily cut electricity to the line, apparently to remove bolt cutters from the power cable.

--- Call The Bee's Bill Lindelof, (916) 321-1079.

Submitted on 02/16/2011

Submitted by: Paul Douglas
Reference: http://blogs.sacbee.com/crime/archives/2011/02/man-electrocute.html 02-16-2011

Copyright © 2011 DarwinAwards.com

Candi said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
Crispy copping copper crooks!

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
And another cooked copper crook off for Darwin to see. Thanks, Paul!

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