Copper Thieves Caught in the Act | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    On Saturday July 15, 2017 Deputies responded to a reported larceny of copper wire at the Century Link Office on Highway 264 E of Washington. The theft was discovered when the owner of a nearby business was reviewing his security camera video and saw two men climbing the Century Link fence and taking the wire. The video also showed clear images of the full sized pickup truck used by the suspects to haul the wire away.

    On Sunday July 16, 2017 Deputies responded again to Century Link when employees discovered more copper wire was taken during the night. Once again surveillance video showed the same two suspect operating the same full sized truck.


    Just before midnight on Monday evening, July 17 2017, while conducting surveillance a Beaufort County Sheriff's Office Patrol Unit spotted the same truck, once again, parked just outside the fence at Century Link. The Deputy called for backup and other Deputies responded to the area. Deputies watched as the same two men loaded 2 spools of copper wire into the back of the truck. Seconds after the two men drove away Deputies conducted a traffic stop and arrested Paul Robin Jordan, age 49 and Charles Ross Hunter, age 67, both of Belvidere NC. Both men were charged with 3 counts of Felony Larceny, and 3 counts of First Degree Trespass on an Infrastructure. Both are being held in the Beaufort County Detention Center on a $40,000.00 secured bond.

    The day after their arrests, Investigators learned the truck operated by Jordan and Hunter was stolen out of Perquimans County. Both men will also be charged with Felony Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle. They are also facing charges of Felony Larceny of a Motor Vehicle out of Perquimans County.

• Sheriff Ernie Coleman
•     Beaufort County Sheriff's Office