By Marilyn Miller

Beacon Journal staff writer

Published on Wednesday, Apr 13, 2011

Authorities say a man died Tuesday afternoon after he was electrocuted while trying to steal copper piping at Rolling Acres Mall.

Firefighters were called to the mostly vacant mall after witnesses say they heard an explosion and saw smoke coming from the electrical cabinet located between the J.C. Penney Outlet store and the former Sears location.

Akron Fire Capt. David Ware said the man was on fire when they arrived.

''He had the bolt cutters in his hand, so when he touched the wire, it grounded and the electricity went right through him,'' Ware said.

Police said they got the initial call about 1:30 p.m.

The identity of the man is un known. The Summit County Medical Examiner's Office said the body was severely burned, and it will take dental records to identify the man.

Police said the man may not have been working alone.

Authorities are looking for a white van that was parked near the transformer. Witnesses said the van drove off after the explosion.

''I heard an explosion, the lights flickered then went out for a few seconds then I heard another explosion and the lights flickered off and on — then everything went out and nothing came back on,'' said Steve Vigder, who works at Federated Auto Parts at 2481 Romig Road.

Vigder walked across the street to see what was going on.

J.C. Penney closed its store after the power went out. All the businesses across the street on the east side also lost electricity.

All power was restored to the area by 5 p.m.

Ohio Edison, a division of FirstEnergy, also responded after receiving a call stating there were 53 customers without power in the Rolling Acres Mall area. Shortly after, they received a call from the Akron Fire Department saying a dead body was found in the electrical cabinet.

There is a transformer box in the electrical cabinet that serves the mall area, said Mark Durbin of First Energy.

''There are 'Danger, High Voltage' signs posted around the electrical equipment. It is an unfortunate accident,'' Durbin said. ''Whoever the victim is he took a chance, and whatever he thought was that important he lost his life behind it.''

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Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.

Investigators look at charred electrical boxes after a man believed to be stealing metal for salvage (behind screen) was electrocuted at Rolling Acres Mall on Tuesday in Akron. (Michael Chritton /Akron Beacon Journal)

View more photos>>

Authorities say a man died Tuesday afternoon after he was electrocuted while trying to steal copper piping at Rolling Acres Mall.

Firefighters were called to the mostly vacant mall after witnesses say they heard an explosion and saw smoke coming from the electrical cabinet located between the J.C. Penney Outlet store and the former Sears location.

Akron Fire Capt. David Ware said the man was on fire when they arrived.

''He had the bolt cutters in his hand, so when he touched the wire, it grounded and the electricity went right through him,'' Ware said.

Police said they got the initial call about 1:30 p.m.

The identity of the man is un known. The Summit County Medical Examiner's Office said the body was severely burned, and it will take dental records to identify the man.

Police said the man may not have been working alone.

Authorities are looking for a white van that was parked near the transformer. Witnesses said the van drove off after the explosion.

''I heard an explosion, the lights flickered then went out for a few seconds then I heard another explosion and the lights flickered off and on — then everything went out and nothing came back on,'' said Steve Vigder, who works at Federated Auto Parts at 2481 Romig Road.

Vigder walked across the street to see what was going on.

J.C. Penney closed its store after the power went out. All the businesses across the street on the east side also lost electricity.

All power was restored to the area by 5 p.m.

Ohio Edison, a division of FirstEnergy, also responded after receiving a call stating there were 53 customers without power in the Rolling Acres Mall area. Shortly after, they received a call from the Akron Fire Department saying a dead body was found in the electrical cabinet.

There is a transformer box in the electrical cabinet that serves the mall area, said Mark Durbin of First Energy.

''There are 'Danger, High Voltage' signs posted around the electrical equipment. It is an unfortunate accident,'' Durbin said. ''Whoever the victim is he took a chance, and whatever he thought was that important he lost his life behind it.''

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.

Submitted on 04/13/2011

Submitted by: Carl Mc Nair
Reference: Akron Beachon Journal 04/13/2011

Copyright © 2011 DarwinAwards.com

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
Yet another one for Darwin's never-ending pile of cooked copper crooks.

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

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