Wellesley cops crack copper case using DNA evidence

DNA evidence collected by the Wellesley Police Department back in 2009 has paid off in the arrest of an alleged thief of copper from Wellesley Municipal Light Plant.

Some $24K worth of copper was swiped from the MLP on Cedar Street back in 2009, but at least one thief left DNA evidence behind that now-Sergeant Steven Atwood scooped up and had processed by the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab.

Rising copper prices have fueled theft of the metal. In fact, a couple of Wellesley churches as well as the Wellesley Recreation Center were victimized by copper thieves last year.