The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office says a traffic stop on Interstate 80 led to the recovery of approximately 44,000 pounds of stolen copper valued at more than $250,000. Chief Deputy Ben Houchin says the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Interdiction Unit stopped a semi-truck around 2 p.m. October 7th for driving on the shoulder of I-80, just west of Waverly.
Houchin says the driver was unable to provide registration or a bill of lading and could not answer basic questions about the shipment. “He did not know what he was hauling. He did not know where he picked up the truck or where it was going,” Houchin says.
The driver gave deputies permission to search the vehicle. Houchin says they found 11 pallets of copper, along with two bolt cutters. He says the load had shifted, which may have contributed to the truck traveling on the shoulder.
Investigators determined the copper had been stolen and was being transported by someone who was not the authorized carrier. The shipment was supposed to be delivered to Lakeside Auto Recycling in Carter Lake, Iowa, but the truck had continued west past its intended destination.
Houchin identified the driver as 22-year-old Ramon Pal, who was booked for theft by receiving over $5,000 and possession of burglar’s tools. Houchin says the company that owned the shipment has reported four stolen loads worth more than $1 million this year. “They were very happy when we let them know that we caught this one,” Houchin says.
He believes the case could involve a larger organized operation and says investigators will continue working to identify others who may be involved. “This is why I love our Criminal Interdiction Unit so much,” Houchin says. “We do not just make the stop, make the arrest, and stop. We continue on, and we go as far as we can with the investigation.”
(Photos: Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office)