MORAGA — A 45-year-old San Jose man has been charged with grand larceny for allegedly stealing nearly $1,300 worth of copper wire from an East Bay hardware store, prosecutors said.
The theft happened Sept. 3 at Outdoor Supply Hardware 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 store vacuum, sealed the box so it looked unopened and checked out, and paid the $110 price for the vacuum.
On Thursday, the man went back to the hardware store with some things he wanted to return. The manager recognized him from security footage and called the Moraga police.
The man was arrested and found to have warrants for his arrest in other counties, according to prosecutors.
He is being held without bond at the Martinez Detention Facility awaiting arraignment on the theft charge.