CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — An attempted copper theft at Fannin Elementary led to a gas leak after suspects reportedly cut power to the campus and tried to remove copper wiring from the roof before fleeing.
According to police, the incident happened sometime between Friday night and Saturday morning at the school on Greenwood Drive. Investigators say suspects cut power to the campus in an apparent attempt to bypass the school’s security before attempting to steal copper from the roof.
Neighbors reportedly saw two people near the campus around the time of the incident, though police say no suspect descriptions are currently available. Authorities believe the suspects fled after school officials noticed the power outage and went to investigate. During the attempted theft, investigators say the suspects damaged a gas line, causing a gas leak on campus.
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When employees arrived later, they reportedly smelled gas, prompting a response from utility crews, who shut off the gas supply and secured the area.Police continue investigating the attempted theft, and officials with CCISD are expected to provide additional information as the investigation continues.
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