According to police, Nathan Vincent Pangallo drew their attention after he sold almost 3500kg of copper wire to scrap metal recyclers for nearly $14,800. Police had been investigating a wave of copper wire thefts at that time.
The 26-year-old man pleaded guilty to receiving and disposing of stolen property, stealing property as a clerk or servant, trespassing and larceny.
The court was told Pangallo was in a drug rehab program, and had been stealing and selling copper wire to feed his heroin habit. He will be sentenced on 21 June 2008.