Copper Thefts Probe Nets Arrest in Nevada

Police in Las Vegas say they’ve made a dent in a pilfered metals probe with the arrest of a 55-year-old man who is accused of receiving stolen property and faces other felony charges.

Records show that Larry Chappel is due in a Las Vegas court on Friday following his arrest Wednesday.

Police say a SWAT team found a garage full of stripped copper, electrical cables, air conditioners and car parts at Chappel’s home in northwest Las Vegas.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that investigators believe the metal was stolen from abandoned houses, construction sites and light poles -including some that belonged to the Las Vegas Valley Water District.

Police Sgt. John Sheahan says investigators are still trying to determine where the metal was going.