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SALT LAKE CITY — A man was arrested after he was caught stripping copper wire from a vacant Apollo Burgers restaurant on Wednesday, police said.
Police responded to the unoccupied Apollo Burgers at 1605 W. North Temple Street after receiving a tip from a witness who saw a man coming in and out of the building at about 5:43 p.m., according to Salt Lake police detective Veronica Montoya. She said officers found Ernest Erickson, 53, stripping copper wire from the building.
“He had (the copper) bundled in rolls,” she said. “He did not have permission to be in there and was going to steal the wiring.”
She believes the building has been unoccupied for several years, and there is a large “For Lease” sign out front. Investigators estimated that about $5,000 worth of damage was done to the property.
The man likely got into the restaurant through a shattered drive-thru window, according to police. The doors and windows were locked.
Erickson was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of burglary, possession of burglary tools, criminal mischief and possession of meth and drug paraphernalia.
