Roselle man accused of stealing copper wire

A 39-year-old Roselle man posed as a construction worker who works on electric and phone lines so he could steal copper wire hidden behind ceiling tiles in Bloomingdale office buildings, police said.

Donald B. Eggers, of the 200 block of Devon Avenue, was arrested and charged with five counts of burglary after an office building employee called police at 6:12 a.m. Thursday to report a suspicious person.

Police said Eggers was involved in five commercial burglaries over the past several weeks: three occurred between the 100 and 200 blocks of Lake Street and two occurred on the 100 block of Fairfield Way.

The thief would usually enter the buildings after 6 a.m., remove ceiling tiles and wall outlets in vacant suites and telephone rooms, and take the copper wire, according to Cmdr. Tim Roberts of the Bloomingdale Police Department. The copper was then sold to recyclers, Roberts said.

Eggers was taken to the DuPage County Jail, where his bail was set at $500,000, of which he must post 10 percent to be released.

One business estimated repair costs at $17,000, Roberts said.