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SALT LAKE CITY — A man accused of stealing 40-foot aluminum light poles on Salt Lake City's west side has been arrested. Officers said they caught the man-red handed holding power tools Tuesday afternoon.
Apparently, 33-year-old Jason Winkler saw the poles as a quick fix for cash. Three 40-foot light poles were cut down at their bases along 6400 West and 700 South and Winkler is accused of stealing at least two of them, perhaps more.
Police said witnesses spotted cutting down the poles on Tuesday around 3pm. When they went to check it out the poles were on the ground but Winkler was gone. A short time later police returned to the scene to find Winkler and another woman with a power saw.
"He had the equipment necessary that would allow him to cut down a utility pole," said Officer Josh Ashdown.
Police said Winkler was cutting down the aluminum poles and scrapping the metal to a local recycler. The poles each cost about $2000, but chop value is only about 100 bucks.
"Really, for the amount of work for taking down something like that and the risk you put on yourself, you'll probably make more at a regular job," Ashdown said.
Winkler is now facing felony theft charges and a misdemeanor drug charge. The woman that was with him was let go.
