Live wire trips would-be copper thief

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A suspected copper thief nearly killed himself on the job this week in Albuquerque.

Police say Randall Becker, 34, broke into a vacant building near Central Avenue NW and 10th Street around midnight Thursday.

When he allegedly tried to steal copper wire from an electrical box he was shocked and burned on his arm and eyes.

Police, who received a call about a man possibly being electrocuted in the building, were outside waiting when Becker walked out about 8 a.m.

He was carrying a trash can holding copper wire, copper tubing and burglary tools and had a pellet gun in his front waistband, according to the Albuquerque Police Department.  He also had suffered burns to his right arm and eyes.

The building incurred additional damage because Becker started a small fire on the floor to keep warm, according to investigators who described the overall damage as "extensive."

After he was treated Becker was jailed on commercial burglary charges under a $5,000 bond although he won't be freed soon.

However, a warrant for his arrest alleging he violated his conditions of release on earlier felony charges orders him held without bond at least until he sees a judge, according to Metropolitan Detention Center records.