Moses Lake, WA – A Moses Lake man is behind bars after sheriff’s deputies say he was caught with stolen copper wire following an overnight burglary at a local power substation.
According to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, deputies arrested 50-year-old Jeffrey Hughes early Wednesday after he was identified as a suspect in the theft of copper wire from a Grant PUD substation on Wenatchee Drive in Moses Lake.
Authorities say the investigation began after PUD employees reported signs of forced entry, including a hole cut in a chain-link fence and tool marks near the substation’s gate locks. Deputies were called to the scene to investigate the apparent burglary.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies gathered information pointing to Hughes, including a vehicle description and reports of a man matching his description seen outside the fenced substation area during the early morning hours of Wednesday, January 3.
Deputies later located Hughes and searched his vehicle, where they allegedly found copper wire and cable sheathing believed to have been taken from the substation. Copper thefts are often investigated due to their potential impact on critical infrastructure and public safety.
Hughes was taken into custody and booked into the Grant County Jail, where he is accused of second-degree burglary. Court records list the case under Grant County Superior Court, though no court appearance date has been announced.
Officials did not report any power outages connected to the incident. The investigation remains ongoing, and no additional suspects have been announced.
Anyone with information related to copper thefts or suspicious activity near utility facilities in Grant County is encouraged to contact local law enforcement.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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