A man has been apprehended in connection with a series of copper cable thefts in Austin, Texas. The Austin Police Department (APD) has issued an arrest warrant for another suspect who remains at large, believed to be in the Bastrop area.
The investigation into these thefts began in August 2026, when detectives noted a pattern of incidents in Northeast Austin involving heavy-gauge copper communication cables attached to wooden telephone poles. The suspects reportedly employed vehicles to bring down the poles and remove the cables.
As the investigation progressed, authorities discovered a white van linked to the thefts that was seen attempting to sell copper at a nearby business. Following this lead, police conducted a traffic stop and identified the driver as 52-year-old Clifford Locklin.
During questioning, Locklin implicated Adam Lawrence, a 37-year-old associate believed to have also participated in the thefts. Detectives later found that Lawrence had sold over 600 pounds of copper a few days after one of the thefts, which was confirmed to belong to AT&T.
In September 2026, detectives secured an arrest warrant for Lawrence, charging him with theft of copper materials. He was subsequently arrested and booked into the Travis County Jail in October 2026.
In October, authorities issued an arrest warrant for Locklin, also charging him with theft of copper materials. He is currently at large and is thought to be in the Bastrop vicinity.
The APD is seeking assistance from the public to locate Locklin. Individuals with information regarding his whereabouts are encouraged to contact the APD at APDCommercialBurglary@austintexas.gov or call (512) 974-6941. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477, with a reward of up to $1,000 available for information leading to an arrest.
