Copper theft sting leads to Martinsville recycling employee arrest

By: WSLS-TV Staff Reports | WSLS-TV 10
Published: January 25, 2012

HENRY COUNTY, VA --

A joint investigation into the sale of stolen copper in Southside has led to the arrest of an employee at a Martinsville recylcing center.

The Henry County Sheriff's Office and Martinsville Police Department say based on information given to investigators by suspects caught in various copper theft cases, along with complaints from the public, led them to conduct an undercover investigation into whether recycling centers were knowingly buying stolen copper and other metals.

The joint investigations used undercover informants to conduct a controlled sale of $222.75 worth of copper. Before the copper was sold, the undercover informant implied to the recycling center employees that the copper was stolen.

Investigators say 30-year-old Noemi Salazar Gonzalez, of Stanleytown, bought some of the copper for Speedweigh Recycling at 100 Pond Street in Martinsville.

Officers arrested Gonzalez on Wednesday (January 25th), and charged her with receiving stolen property. She's being held in jail on a $1,000 bond.

The investigation is ongoing.

Copper theft sting leads to Martinsville recycling employee arrest

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