Thieves take nearly $12,000 in cables, wire from Akins Ford Arena construction site

During the predawn hours of Aug. 27, a security video captured the sight of a U-Haul truck unlawfully entering the construction site of the new sports and concert arena at the Classic Center complex.

When the truck left, it was carrying nearly $12,000 worth of cable and wire, according to an Athens-Clarke police report.

The truck arrived at about 1 a.m. then leaves at 2:38 a.m. by exiting onto Foundry Street and traveling toward East Broad Street, according to the report. Police were dispatched to the crime scene at 8:15 a.m.

Construction on the Akins Ford Arena, which will have a capacity of 8,500 people, is near completion and is expected to host its first event in early December.

The wiring and cables stolen belonged to Works Aptitude Intelligent Integration of Texas and Metro Power of Tucker, Georgia, police said.

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Thieves removed a variety of cables including 45 rolls of copper wires with 2,500 feet of wire on each roll, according to the report.

An official with one of the companies told police no one was supposed to be on the site at those hours and a gate code was needed to gain access to the area.

The thief appeared to know where the wires were located, company officials told police, leading to the likelihood the thief had been on the site beforehand.

Police Lt. Jody Thompson said late Tuesday that detectives reported they are still trying to identify the suspect or suspects.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Thieves take nearly $12,000 in cables, wire from Akins Ford Arena construction site