San Jose man charged in East Bay copper wire caper

MORAGA — A 45-year-old San Jose man has been charged with felony grand theft for allegedly stealing nearly $1,300 worth of copper wire from an East Bay hardware store, prosecutors said.

The theft happened on Sept. 3 at the Outdoor Supply Hardware located at 1550 Canyon Road in Moraga, according to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors said the man loaded rolls of copper wire into an empty shop vacuum box, sealed the box to make it look unopened and checked out, paying the $110 price for the vacuum.

On Thursday, the man went back to the hardware store with some items he wanted to return. The manager recognized him from security footage and called Moraga police.

The man was arrested and found to have warrants in other counties, according to prosecutors.

He is being held without bail at the Martinez Detention Facility and is awaiting arraignment on the theft charge.