St. Paul police arrested a man they believe is responsible for recent copper thefts, and they say he had 1,000 pounds of high-grade copper.

The suspect, a 53-year-old St. Paul man who has not been charged, allegedly broke into a vacant factory at 310 E. 5th St. two times earlier this month, police said in a news release. The building in downtown St. Paul is being converted into a facility for the Central Corridor light-rail line. Police do not believe the thefts are linked to any criticisms of the project.

The first burglary occurred between Feb. 11 and 14. The second one occurred between Feb. 18 and 20.

Evidence at the first burglary led investigators to the suspect, who was arrested on Tuesday without incident at a metal-recycling center in St. Paul, said police spokesman Andy Skoogman. The suspect was arrested as he was unloading copper from his truck -- both wiring and thick copper strips called busbar -- that were reported stolen from the factory.

Copper is selling between $3.15 and $3.25 per pound, Skoogman said.

Police are looking into whether he was involved in other copper theft cases.

The suspect once owned a scrap-metal business, and has a long police record that includes arrests for assaults, terroristic threats and drunken driving.

The police are not looking for other suspects in the factory theft cases.

CHAO XIONG