Accused copper thief caught red-handed

BROOKLINE (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) A 43-year-old Medford man is accused of stealing copper wires from Brookline Village Station.

Transit Police arrived at the station just after 2 a.m. on Friday morning after receiving a report that a man was cutting copper wire and piling the sections onto the track bed.

Upon arrival, police found Robert O'Neil attempting to leave the area and noticed he was walking "stiff legged." It was reportedly learned a short while later that O'Neil had a pair of cable cutters hidden inside of his pants, as well as a pair of work gloves.

Police recovered a pile of copper cables cut into five foot sections from the station. A witness claims to have seen O'Neil cutting the wire.

O'Neil is facing charges that include larceny over $250, vandalizing railroad signals, and trespassing.

Cox Media Group