Copper Wire Thief Arrested
For Immediate Release
Tuesday March 25, 2008

CHANDLER, AZ. On Friday, March 21, 2008 at approximately 4:30 A.M., Steven Ross Fowler was arrested for attempting to steal copper wire from a Chandler city facility, located near Cooper and the San Tan Freeway.  Chandler Police in conjunction with Chandler City workers conducted a joint operation using newly developed equipment to apprehend the suspect.  At 3:50 A.M., the equipment alerted police of the theft in progress.  Officers set up a perimeter and conducted a search of the area.  During the search, police located several burglary tools.  A K-9 located Fowler in some bushes, where he was burying himself in dirt to avoid detection.

In addition to this attempted theft, Fowler, a 40-year-old Tempe resident, is under investigation for other copper thefts in the city of Chandler where over $200,000 in copper was stolen.  Fowler has an extensive electrical background and has worked as an electrician.  Fowler was booked into the Maricopa County Jails for burglary in the third degree, Arizona Revised Statue 13-1506A1, a felony.
   
Due to various copper wire thefts, the police department, in conjunction with city workers, is conducting these operations throughout the city of Chandler in an effort to apprehend copper thieves.

The Chandler Police Department is encouraging anyone with further information about this case or other copper wire thefts to call 480-782-4130.

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