Suspected copper wire thief arrested inside manhole in View Park – NBC Los Angeles

Los Angeles County authorities Tuesday charged a man who they believe tried to steal copper wire in the View Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.

The LA County District Attorney’s Office charged Elliaz Natividad with attempted grand theft of copper after deputies arrested the 25-year-old inside an open manhole.

The investigation began when deputies received a call about a possible copper wire theft last Saturday at around 5 a.m.. A caller reported that he or she saw a man going down an open manhole.

Deputies followed the man down the manhole and found 25-year-old Elliaz Natividad underground with cutting tools, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told NBC Los Angeles exclusively Tuesday. 

Among the various tools he had at the time of the arrest include slim jim, tension bar and water-pump pliers, according to the complaint.

While deputies were not sure if Natividad caused any damage, AT&T will go underground to check for possible damage, the sheriff’s department said.