A forgotten Target receipt and a set of footprints led authorities to the man charged Thursday with breaking into a vacant factory and stealing copper.
Thomas E. Gorz, 53, who has no known permanent address, was charged in Ramsey County District Court with two counts each of second-degree burglary, third-degree burglary and first-degree criminal damage to property.
According to the complaint:
A building at 310 5th St. E. in downtown St. Paul that is being converted into a Central Corridor light-rail facility was broken into between Feb. 11 and 14 and a second time between Feb. 19 and 22. Copper wiring and transformer fuses were stolen, and three transformers were damaged.
When police investigated the first burglary, they found a Target bag in the basement with a receipt inside. The receipt was dated Feb. 12 and was for two Coleman lights, the charges said.
Photos from Target surveillance video matched Gorz, whom police know through other cases.
Police arrested Gorz Tuesday as he was trying to sell 1,033 pounds of copper worth $3,253 at Alter Metal Recycling. Authorities then matched his footwear to footprints at the scene of the second burglary, the complaint said.
Police found a large bolt cutter in Gorz's truck, along with the stolen copper.
