Joshua Westervelt, 36, is facing felony charges after police say he spent the year repeatedly stealing and selling copper wire from utility poles on Indy’s near east side.
Court records from Marion County show Westervelt began small in January, selling a few pounds of stolen wire for $2 to $20. The amounts quickly escalated into the thousands, and he allegedly pawned stolen copper at least 103 times this year.
The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office charged Westervelt with four felonies: arson, critical infrastructure mischief, theft, and criminal mischief.
Court documents indicate he allegedly stole 9,109 pounds of burnt copper wire, valued at $28,662. Police say Westervelt cut telecommunication lines from AT&T before his arrest last month.
Neighbors expressed relief at the arrest. “It’s just an early Christmas present. I was thrilled because he’d been a nuisance for the year and a half he’d been here,” said Doug Altom.
Police claim Westervelt removed or melted black tubing and burned the wire until only copper remained. The resulting smoke and fires prompted neighbors to call the fire department 16 times. “The smoke was just unbelievable. It was thick and black. It stunk. That’s why we kept calling the fire department and saying we need to do something about this,” Altom said.
Because the thefts came directly from utility poles, AT&T estimates more than 500 customers experienced outages between July and October. “It does have an impact on our community. When someone does this it takes out lots of phone or cable lines. It has a great impact and people are put out during that time,” said IMPD Officer Tommy Thompson.
Police said the stolen wiring was sold repeatedly to scrap dealers. One dealer on English Avenue alerted authorities in August after Westervelt arrived with nearly 300 pounds of raw copper. When arrested last month, Westervelt’s hands were covered in soot and ash.
The affidavit indicates Westervelt confessed, admitting he knew his actions were wrong. Police also found large blue wire cutters along with marijuana and meth at his home, resulting in additional drug charges.
Although no violence occurred, IMPD emphasized the case highlights the department’s commitment to holding repeat offenders accountable. “We’re here and we stand to keep our community safe and hold those that commit crimes in our community accountable. That’s what we’re going to do and we’re going to continue to do,” Thompson said.
Westervelt made his initial hearing last week and is being held on a $20,000 cash bond pending trial. While he pawned the wire for over $28,000, AT&T estimates its value at at least $50,000.
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears praised the collaboration between business and law enforcement: “We were able to bring major felony charges before the Court because of the collaboration between members of our business community and law enforcement to build this case. As similar investigations continue, we remain committed to working together to improve the lives of our Marion County residents who are impacted when these incidents occur.”
IMPD Chief Chris Bailey lauded the detective team’s persistence. “These thefts caused significant service disruptions and outages that directly affected our neighborhoods. This investigation is a powerful example of the commitment our detectives bring to protecting Indianapolis every day, regardless of the crime,” Bailey said.
AT&T described the theft and vandalism as “serious criminal matters” that could impact customers and public safety.
“We thank the MCPO and IMPD for their collaborative efforts. AT&T will continue to work closely with law enforcement to ensure that those responsible for theft and vandalism of communications infrastructure are identified, arrested and convicted. Maintaining uninterrupted and high-quality service for customers is a top priority for AT&T. The public should report any unmarked (non-AT&T) vehicles or individuals cutting and removing cable to the police or AT&T Global Security at (800) 807‐4205,” said Steven Rogers, AT&T director of external affairs.