Live wire shocks would-be copper thief

A 39-year-old Prince George man surviveda massive electrical joltwhile trying to steal copper wire and piping from a B.C. Hydro substation in the northern B.C. city, say the RCMP.

RCMP spokesman Const. Gary Godwin said the man was zapped with 12,000 volts and 300 amps of electricity.

The unidentified man, who is known to police, was taken to hospital where he wastreated andreleased.

Godwin said the man had driven his vehicle through a line of posts at the substation early Monday morning, and then cut his way through two fences to getto the valuable copper.

He said police will recommend charges of breaking and entering, and attempted theft.

A Hydro spokesman said theincident caused some power outages in the area, but power was restored a short time later using another substation.

David Conway also said there wassubstantial damagethat would take a few weeks to repair.

Copper wire has become a frequent target of thieves after a huge increase in the price of the scrapmetal.