Evansville Police Arrested Two for Copper Theft

Officers tracked two suspects who allegedly stole over 100 pounds of copper wire from a local energy utility.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Property Crime

Evansville Police Arrested Two for Copper Theft

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Evansville police have arrested Kenneth Pleasant and Danielle Guess following the theft of more than 100 pounds of copper wire from a CenterPoint Energy facility. Authorities apprehended the pair after deploying a department drone to track their movements near the 1500 block of North Evans Avenue.

Why it matters

The arrest highlights the ongoing issue of infrastructure theft, which disrupts essential utility services and creates significant financial burdens for local providers. Protecting specialized equipment like copper wiring remains a priority for law enforcement to maintain regional service reliability.

Kenneth Pleasant and Danielle Guess remain in custody at the Vanderburgh County Jail following their arrest on September 30, 2026. The investigation remains active as authorities process evidence found at the scene, including physical markers like grease matching a cut fence.

The players

Kenneth Pleasant

He is one of the two suspects arrested by Evansville police for the theft of copper wire.

Danielle Guess

She is one of the two suspects arrested by Evansville police for the theft of copper wire.

CenterPoint Energy

This is the utility company that owned the copper equipment stolen from the 1500 block of North Evans Avenue.

Vanderburgh County Jail

This is the local detention facility where the suspects were transported following their arrest.

The details

Police utilized a department drone to monitor the suspects' flight path after they allegedly entered the utility site through a hole in a fence. Officers recovered over 100 pounds of copper wire discarded along the route, with forensic evidence linking the suspects to the crime scene.

September 30, 2026: Police apprehended Kenneth Pleasant and Danielle Guess for the theft.

Legal Context

This incident reflects a broader trend of increased law enforcement efforts to mitigate copper wire theft, which has become a persistent issue for utility companies nationwide. Many jurisdictions are now employing advanced surveillance tools like drones to combat property crimes that threaten essential infrastructure stability.

Residents in the area near North Evans Avenue may see continued police patrols as the investigation into utility-related property crime proceeds. These incidents serve as a reminder that unauthorized entry into utility lots poses safety risks to both the perpetrators and the surrounding community.

The takeaway

Copper wire theft remains a serious issue that carries significant legal consequences for those involved. Local utility infrastructure is increasingly monitored by law enforcement, making such crimes harder to commit without detection.