Police recover $258K copper load from stolen J.B. Hunt trailer in North Carolina

A tip about a suspected multistate cargo theft operation led officers to a truck stop and a Florida man.

A stolen 53-foot J.B. Hunt trailer led North Carolina police to approximately $258,000 in copper wire Friday. Kenly officers recovered both the equipment and its contents. They located the suspected driver at a nearby truck stop. The arrest followed information about a cargo theft operation spanning multiple jurisdictions.

The Kenly Police Department received information about the suspected organization on Aug. 14. The tip described criminal activity extending beyond North Carolina. Investigators then coordinated with unnamed out-of-state agencies. That collaboration focused on locating missing freight connected with the operation.

Officers locate stolen trailer

Major A. Dixon, Detective Sgt. K. Taylor and Officers Hicks and Reed located the equipment. Records showed theft reports covered both the trailer and its contents. The team later found the suspected driver at a local truck stop. A brief struggle occurred before police took him into custody.

During the arrest, an officer found a handgun concealed on the man. The department then applied for a search warrant covering the trailer. A judge granted that request. Investigators searched the interior and discovered approximately $258,000 in stolen copper wire.

Click for full story.