Stealing Copper Wire in North Carolina: How Much Time Will I Get?

In 2025, multiple sources warned of a sharp uptick in copper wire theft across the nation. These predictions stemmed from the rapid increase in copper values. In October of 2025, copper reached a price of over $11,000 per metric ton, representing a 27% increase year-to-date. Ten years ago, the price of copper was about $7,000 per ton. This price increase is something many people have noticed, including both high-net-worth inventors and those in far more desperate circumstances. What if you stole copper wire? Can an Asheville, N.C. defense lawyer help you?

Three Men Arrested in North Carolina for Stealing Copper Wire

On October 30th, 2025, WBTV reported that three men had been arrested for allegedly stealing copper wire in North Carolina. Officials say that these men were part of a criminal network that had been operating throughout the Tar Heel State. While the details of these thefts were not revealed by the authorities, the men face serious consequences.

All three face felony charges for larceny, possessing stolen goods, injury to utility wires/fixtures, obtaining property by false pretense, and felony conspiracy. The nature of these charges provides a few clues as to how these men carried out the alleged theft. The fact that they face charges for damaging utility wires suggests that they were targeting public infrastructure.

The fact that they were also charged with obtaining property under false pretenses also suggests that they were perhaps pretending to be utility workers in order to gain access to the infrastructure and steal/remove the copper wire. However, this is pure speculation, and the details surrounding this case are difficult to find.

Does North Carolina Have Laws Against Stealing Copper Wire?

No, North Carolina does not have unique laws against the theft of copper wire. However, these laws could eventually come into effect, especially if copper wire continues to rise in price and criminals target public infrastructure with greater frequency.

The aforementioned case shows that copper wire theft can certainly lead to additional charges beyond larceny. These include damaging utility wires, possessing stolen property, and so on.

Generally speaking, larceny penalties depend on the value of the stolen goods in North Carolina. If the stolen copper wire is worth less than $1,000, you may face a misdemeanor instead of a felony. If the value of the copper wire exceeds this amount, felony charges are possible.

Can an Asheville, N.C. Defense Lawyer Help With Theft Charges? 

Whether you stole copper wire or any other item, an Asheville, N.C. defense lawyer may be able to help. The penalties for copper wire theft depend on various circumstances. These include your past offenses, the amount of copper wire stolen, and whether you conspired with other people. Discuss your unique circumstances with The Pritchard Firm today, and get started with a defense strategy.

Sources:

 ecam.com/security-blog/copper-theft-continues-to-be-a-problem

macrotrends.net/1476/copper-prices-historical-chart-data

wbtv.com/video/2025/10/30/trio-arrested-amid-multi-county-copper-wire-theft-operation-north-carolina/