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Brian Keith Mawhorr, who was arrested Aug. 1, is charged with burglary of habitation with the intent to commit felony theft, and burglary of buildings with intent to commit felony theft, said Lt. Rodney Cox of the Refugio County Sheriff’s Department.
He is also under investigation for stealing farm equipment, irrigation tubing, copper wire and other materials.
“His claim is that’s how he earns a living as a scrap collector or junk collector,” Cox said.
Aluminum cans or scrap metal is not a problem as long as permission is given but when the metal is copper wire stolen from new construction that is, Cox said.
Metal thieves are turning good working equipment into scrap metal by cutting it and exposing it to the elements, Cox said. “They are posing it as scrap metal, that’s the main key, the metal that these individuals steal is precious and valuable in itself.”
To the thief whatever he sells the metal for is a profit. “The landowners, the homeowners, the business owners, they’re the ones that are suffering,” he said.
He said community members helped break the case when they called the sheriff’s office to report a suspicious vehicle.
His advice is to report the crime immediately when it is found. People are also encouraged to mark in detail all of their property, machinery and other items of value using an etching tool, different layers of paint, or with tags placed in an inconspicuous place.
Neighbors need to also help neighbors and help law enforcement, Cox said.