COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – Richland County authorities are addressing several arrests in connection with recent copper thefts.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department says AT&T alone has been the victim of 105 copper thefts in the past year.
Since October 2025, there have been 60 incidents of copper theft in Richland County.
Officials say thieves cut cables, heavily damaging communication infrastructure in the process, and then sell the stolen copper to scrap metal dealers and recyclers.
RCSD arrested 58-year-old Michael McCraw on June 24. He was charged with Obtaining Money under False Pretenses by selling stolen copper; they estimate he has made nearly $38,000 selling burned communication line copper.
The incidents are still under investigation, and RCSD is pursuing several other people of interest.
Two more have also been arrested for copper thefts.
William Morgan and Charley Zorn were arrested July 25 by the Columbia Police Department after patrol officers received a suspicious persons call from a community member.
FROM LEFT: Michael McCraw, Charley Zorn, William Morgan(WIS News 10)
Both are charged with Unlawful Sale of Nonferrous Metals, Possession of Burglary Tools, Petit Larceny $2,000 or less, Criminal Conspiracy, and Theft of Electric Current.
“These thieves are chasing a quick payday while leaving neighborhoods without phone service, businesses offline, and emergency communications at risk,” Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said. “We will continue to find every person responsible and make sure they face the consequences. The public plays a critical role in helping us do that.”
RCSD says you can help by reporting suspicious activity near poles, manholes, cell sites, utility easements, or construction areas.
Utility workers should have marked vehicles, credentials, or valid work orders, and no one should be in these areas after sunset. RCSD asks community members to report signs of stolen copper such as damaged or vandalized communication infrastructure, burn pits, piles of outer cable sheath, or dumped cable.
Scrap metal dealers and recyclers should also be on the lookout for red flags like sellers offering unusually large quantities of copper or cable, burned/melted/stripped/de-sheathed copper, and copper that appears to contain twisted, color-coded telecommunications pairs rather than ordinary household wiring.
If you see suspicious behavior, call 911, the Columbia-Richland non-emergency number at (803) 252-2911, or submit an anonymous tip to CrimeStoppers at 1(888) CRIME-SC.
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