Officer Chris Rankin

Public Information Officer

903-798-3187 (office) 903-260-0294 (pager)

903-824-4199 (cell) 903-798-3023 (fax)

Texarkana Arkansas Police Badge

COPPER THEFT TASK FORCE MAKE ARREST ON FIRST DAY

Recently, copper thefts in both Texarkana, Texas and Texarkana, Arkansas have increased and have expanded to commercial businesses.  Thieves have targeted commercial air conditioning units most often found on the roofs of the business itself.  Often, air conditioning units of this size can have costs associated with them from $3,000 to $10,000, depending on whether or not the unit was removed entirely or only the copper components were removed.  Due to a recent rash of thefts and damage to these type units on both sides of State Line Avenue, a two man task force was established on Wednesday, January 31, 2007.  The task force consists of Detective Ricky Woodard of the Texarkana, Texas Police Department and Detective Paul Nall of the Texarkana, Arkansas Police Department. 

On the task force’s first day of formation, the two detectives set out to attempt to obtain information from local recycling businesses.  While at one of these businesses in Texarkana, Arkansas, Detectives Nall and Woodard observed a beige Honda Accord pull into the lot.  Ironically, this same vehicle had been listed prior as a suspect vehicle in a theft reported at the Larkotex building on Olive Street on January 25, 2007. 

The two detectives immediately made contact with the occupants of the vehicle, Gary Lynn Thomas, 39 year old black male and Tony Dewayne Thurston, a 47 black male, both from Texarkana, Arkansas.  Inside the vehicle the detectives noticed copper coiling, similar to that of the recent thefts.  The interview ultimately led to the arrest of Thurston.  Through the investigation, three separate cases were cleared in Texas and two charges have been filed against Thurston in Arkansas.  The investigation is open and ongoing.  Police believe there may be more people involved. 

The Texarkana Police Departments encourage anyone with any information regarding thefts of this type to contact either Detective Woodard at 903-798-3170 or Detective Nall at 903-798-3160, or contact the Texarkana are Crime Stoppers at 903-793-STOP (7867).

Thank you and you can visit the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department online at http://www.txkusa.org/arkpolice.