Police: Man stole thousands worth of copper wire from industrial sites

Donald Grier, 59.
Credit: Delaware State Police

Police in Delaware on Thursday arrested a Claymont man for allegedly burglarizing industrial and construction sites in Wilmington and Newark during at least five separate incidents over the past three months, making away with thousands of dollars worth of copper wire and construction equipment.

Investigators said Donald Grier, 59, was taken into custody during a traffic stop on Kirkwood Highway.

The man’s alleged burglary spree began at the Delmarva Power substation on Hay Road.

Police said Grier on May 15 and June 8 cut through a fence and removed copper wire from electrical transmission apparatus, as well as whole spools of copper wire.

Grier is accused of on June 13 targeting electrical contractor M. Davis Company on Germay Drive.

The suspect, along with two other people, broke into the company’s supply yard and stole construction equipment, according to authorities.

Police said Grier’s most recent thefts were discovered July 15.

He allegedly broke into a construction site on Kirkwood Highway and made away with metal and various tools.

Grier is also accused of burglarizing a construction site on Stanton Christiana Road in Newark, again stealing metal and tools.

Grier is charged with six counts of possession of burglary tools; five counts of criminal mischief under $1,000; four counts each of third-degree burglary and theft over $1,500; three counts each of theft under $1,500, second-degree trespassing and third-degree conspiracy and two counts of theft under $1,500.

He was committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institute on $45,000 secured bail.