ST. GABRIEL — St. Gabriel Police officers have arrested one man and they’re searching for a second person in connection to copper wire stolen that was valued in the tens of thousands of dollars.
Keith J Pfister, of St. Rose, LA, has been arrested and charged with felony theft and felony criminal damage to property. Officers continue searching for Gregory Doster, of Mount Airy, LA, also wanted on the same charges.
Officials say the duo is accused of stealing copper wire with records showing that over the past few months, the two men allegedly sold nearly $30,000 worth of copper wire to a recycling facility in New Orleans.
St. Gabriel Police say since August 18, 2024, officers have responded to the area of Hwy. 75 near Willow Glen after citizens reported the lines were down. Officers went out to the area in reference to someone stealing AT&T fiberoptic wire from elevated cables roughly four times. That’s why St. Gabriel officers started surveille of the area.
On September 6, 2024 around 1 a.m., officers say they found Pfister on foot allegedly “tying a low hanging cable to the bumper of his vehicle attempting to pull the cable away from the elevated line that it was attached to.” That’s when officers moved in and after a brief foot pursuit, arrested Pfister.
St. Gabriel Police are asking for the public’s help in finding Doster in connection to the stolen copper wire.
AT&T representatives estimate the theft cost to the company is more than $50,000. That’s because nearly 2,000 of cable was allegedly stolen and has to be replaced.
Anyone with information on Doster’s whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 344-STOP or the St. Gabriel PD at 225-642-5222.
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