Charges laid over theft of over $70,000 worth of industrial copper from Great Southern industrial grain sites

A 38-year-old man who allegedly stole more than $70,000 worth of copper wiring has been charged with burglary and stealing after a joint investigation by Katanning and Mandurah police led to his arrest. Joshua Cougan is accused of stripping and stealing the copper wiring from disused warehouses and grain storage sites in the Great Southern region. Katanning officer-in-charge Sen. Sgt Dave Rudd said that six similar cases were reported from sites around the Great Southern and Wheatbelt region in the last three months and charges were laid after a DNA kit linked the man to the scene of two crimes. Mr Cougan has been charged with one count of stealing and one count of burglary and stealing. Further evidence collected by Katanning police, including CCTV of the man’s vehicle in Katanning with a large amount of copper wire in the back, led Mandurah police to apprehend the alleged offender in January. Investigation into the other thefts is ongoing and Sen. Sgt Dave Rudd urged the community to be vigilant. “If people who live near these abandoned sites see anything suspicious, they should call police or Crime Stoppers,” he said. Anyone with information about a possible crime should call Katanning police on 9821 3800 or contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.wa.com.au.