Homeless man charged with stealing copper from ComEd facility

A homeless man with a last known address in Lisle faces a series of burglary-related charges after being arrested early Tuesday morning while trying to steal copper from a ComEd facility near Elmhurst, authorities said.

Dale A. Vandermyde, 50, with a last known address on the 5600 block of Westview Lane, is being held in DuPage County jail on charges of burglary and possession of burglary tools.

DuPage County sheriff's deputies were called just before 2 a.m. to the facility at County Line Road just south of Grand Avenue, authorities said. ComEd security officers said Vandermyde was spotted removing materials from the building and stocking them along the fence line.

Deputies arrived and took Vandermyde into custody.

During the investigation, Vandermyde, who was sleeping near the facility, told deputies he dug under the fence and broke into the ComEd facility to steal copper tubing to be resold.

In December 2017, Vandermyde pleaded guilty to burglary for the theft of 40 pounds of copper tubing from an unoccupied house in Downers Grove. He was sentenced to 100 days in jail and two years of probation.