Two men charged after police allegedly seized $20,000 worth of copper wire near Cootamundra

Two men faced Wagga Wagga Local Court after police allegedly seized $20,000 worth of copper wire. Photo: Shri Gayathirie Rajen.

Two Wagga men have been refused bail after police allegedly seized $20,000 worth of copper wire near Cootamundra over the weekend.

Cole Lowe, 36, and Lindsay O’Donnell, 35, appeared at Wagga Wagga Local Court yesterday (22 July), charged with a string of offences, including dishonestly obtaining property by deception, larceny, and destroying/damaging property in company.

Both men were refused bail by Magistrate Don McLennan.

Photos: NSW Police.

Police said they were contacted after a driver allegedly failed to pay for petrol at a service station in Murray Street, Cootamundra, at about 10:33 am on 20 July.

Nearly 20 minutes later, officers were contacted after copper wire was allegedly taken from a railway line near the Olympic Highway at Tanyinna, about 16 km south of Cootamundra.

Following inquiries, at about 3:45 pm the same day, Hume Police District officers spotted a utility allegedly fitting the description parked near railway lines, near the service station on Yass Valley Way, Yass, during their patrol.

The officers approached the vehicle and arrested Lowe and O’Donnell and allegedly seized 30 rolls of copper wire with an estimated value of $20,000, tin snips and gloves.

Lowe is set to appear at Cootamundra Local Court on 19 August while O’Donnel is set to appear at Wagga Wagga Local Court on 7 August.