Tons of copper stolen from tractor-trailer in DeKalb County - Los Angeles Local News, Weather, and Traffic

Thieves stole an entire trailer from an 18-wheeler filled with copper in DeKalb County.

The theft occurred on New Year's Day outside a warehouse on Chupp Road in Lithonia. The owner of GS Marble, Andre Rodriguez, allowed a driver to park a truck in his parking lot, but when the driver returned, the copper was gone and the truck was trashed.

The victim says the thieves made off with more than 17 tons of copper wire worth more than $100,000.

"They disconnected the tractor from the trailer. They brought another tractor, hooked that tractor to the trailer and then removed the tractor and trailer with 35,000 pounds of copper wire. And also took the gas -- they had the time to take the gas out of the semi," said Rodriguez.

Another business across the street had two surveillance cameras pointed at the entrance of the warehouse where the copper wire was stolen.

DeKalb County police did not send an officer out to the scene initially because it was a non-emergency call, but officers took a report by phone.

Detectives are actively investigating this case. They will more than likely be very interested in reviewing the surveillance video.