Darren Douglas Powell, 51, has been refused bail over allegations involving stolen copper. Photo: Albert McKnight.
An alleged burglar reportedly sold 1.6 tonnes of copper that had been stolen from construction sites and other locations around Canberra earlier this year.
Darren Douglas Powell, 51, was refused bail over the allegations when he faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday (31 July).
An ACT Policing spokesperson said police were told of burglaries at a construction site in Gungahlin last month where a vehicle, tools and copper wire had been stolen.
Investigations found the stolen vehicle had gone to an address in Florey.
When police tried to speak to the occupants of the home, they allegedly spotted copper wiring in the backyard.
Officers later raided the home and seized a mobile phone.
Then on Wednesday (30 July), police went to a home in Bonner to find Mr Powell. He allegedly tried to flee, but was caught in the yard of a nearby home.
“Following further enquiries, police will allege the man sold more than 1.6 tonnes of stolen copper to a metal recycling centre this year,” the police spokesperson said.
Mr Powell was charged with two counts of the unlawful possession of stolen property, as well as single counts of burglary, driving a motor vehicle without consent and trespass when he briefly faced the Magistrates Court over an audio-visual link on Thursday.
The court heard he was alleged to have possessed the 1.6 tonnes of stolen copper between April and June 2025 and committed a burglary at a building in Gungahlin on 24 June this year.
He did not apply for bail, so Magistrate Jane Campbell refused it and adjourned the matter to 21 August.
No pleas were entered.
Just when Via Dolce built an attractive, cosmopolitan gazebo that was well patronised, with… View