Saint Paul Man Charged in Christmas Morning Copper Wire Theft
BY MN CRIME STAFF
A man is facing multiple felony charges after police say he was caught stealing copper wire from a streetlight early Christmas morning.
The latest offense is part of a series of similar cases authorities say date back several years.
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Gay Gay, 45, is charged with felony energy or telecom damage or theft, first-degree damage to property and possession of burglary or theft tools in connection with the incident, which occurred around 1:06 a.m. on Dec. 25, 2025 in Saint Paul.
According to the criminal complaint, Saint Paul police were dispatched to the area of Idaho Avenue and Weide Street after a caller reported two suspicious males who appeared to be trying to break into a parked Toyota Camry. When officers arrived, they spotted two people walking south on Weide Street. One officer recognized Gay from prior arrests involving copper wire theft.
Police identified the second person as an 18-year-old man. Officers said both claimed they were walking back to their vehicle parked two blocks away but would not say where they had been coming from. Officers also noted both were wearing multiple thick layers of clothing, which police say is common in cold-weather property crimes due to extended time spent outdoors.
Officers conducted pat searches for safety and found multiple tools on the 18-year-old. Additional tools were located on the ground near where the two had been standing, including a cutter, a screwdriver and vise grip pliers.
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Police checked the Toyota Camry and found no damage. However, a nearby streetlight was not illuminated while surrounding streetlights were functioning. Officers observed fresh footprints around the base of the light, exposed wires and signs the access hatch had been forced open.
Gay and the other man were taken into custody. During a search, police recovered a roll of copper wire that matched the wire missing from the damaged streetlight along with small socket tools. Police also found additional tools in a bag and backpack one man was carrying, including a large flathead screwdriver, a pry bar and wire cutters.
During a post-Miranda interview, the 18-year-old admitted to stealing copper wire from the streetlight and said he acted as a lookout while Gay removed the wire, according to the complaint. Authorities estimate the cost to repair the damaged streetlight exceeds $1,000.
The charges carry potential sentences of up to five years in prison on the energy or telecom theft and first-degree property damage counts and up to three years for possession of burglary tools. Charging information for the 18-year-old was not immediately available.
Prosecutors also detailed Gay’s prior and pending cases as part of the complaint. About eight days before the Christmas incident, police say a witness saw Gay removing copper wire from a light pole in St. Anthony. Officers arrested him after a foot chase and recovered wire cutters, pry bars and copper wire. That case remains active.
In February 2024, police arrested Gay after surveillance officers observed him stopping at multiple inoperable streetlights while carrying a heavy bag. Investigators later documented damage to more than 45 streetlights, with repair costs estimated at roughly $225,000. A separate traffic stop days later led to the recovery of numerous tools and rolls of copper wire matching wire stolen from light poles. Those cases also remain active.
Court records show Gay was on probation at the time of the Christmas incident and has an additional open felony drug case. Gay was charged by warrant and is not in custody.
